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Letter to the editor

Dear Technews Publishing,

I read the article “Nice price, but consider the cost” on the Hi-Tech Security Solutions website (https://www.securitysa.com/8432R) and have the following comment.

Much of that which was written in this article is generally agreed by all, such as the man in the street being able to buy from Makro and Takealot, as well as top-end sales staff being side-lined by less competent persons, but I do not agree that all cheap products are bad.

I might not be in favour of the quality and sales tactics of some Eastern companies, but they have made major strides into the CCTV world market.

Then we have Uniview and the effect of consulting engineers on the CCTV industry.

My background is a professional in the construction industry and, as such, I am fully aware of consultants’ remuneration method. In most cases it is as a percentage of the contract value and, less often, it is either a lump sum or on an hourly basis.

With this in mind, consultants have no incentive and are unwilling to consider any system, albeit superior, if it is not expensive. I predict this will ultimately cause the downfall of the consulting system currently in use in South Africa and many other Commonwealth countries around the world, to be replaced by a system whereby the focus is on the client and the best value for that client.

We have been involved in the CCTV industry for nearly 20 years. Uniview stands out as one of the industry’s biggest success stories. Since 2011, this company has delivered more than 580 safe city projects (these projects vary between 100 000 and 500 000 cameras/project), 45 airports, over 100 metro lines, more than 380 enterprises and 230 highways (a highway in Switzerland took 60 000 cameras). Uniview is ranked as the third-largest seller of CCTV equipment in South Africa.

Uniview is possibly the best value for money in the CCTV market at present, but because consulting engineers are paid a percentage of the CCTV installation cost, they have no incentive to look for a cost-effective top-end product. I believe this attitude from consulting engineers will ultimately result in clients preferring to use their own engineers rather than engineering specialists.

Regards,

Tasker Makings,

[email protected]

If anyone would like to comment on Tasker’s letter, please send a response to [email protected]

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