SIA New Member Profile: Seneca, an Arrow Company

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member Seneca, an Arrow company, offers innovative video appliances that support mission-critical physical security installations.

SIA spoke with Darren Crawford, North America sales leader at Seneca, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Darren Crawford: For more than two decades, Seneca has been the trusted name for innovative video appliances. We have earned that reputation because of our deep expertise in video technology and our ability to help companies of all sizes to capture, display and manage state-of-the-art video content at the edge. As a result, we are the backbone of the world’s leading physical security and digital signage installations.

In August 2014, we became an Arrow Electronics company. Now our commitment to innovation, quality and service is backed by the resources of a Fortune 104 company. Through our relationship with Arrow, we have significant partnerships with leading vendors and access to a global supply chain. Our global network spans 90 countries and 465 locations.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings or your company unique?

DC: Seneca is a leading manufacturer of computer and storage technology for the physical security market, with a full line of specialized solutions that are validated to offer outstanding performance with the leading video management system platforms.

We design and manufacturer some of the most secure and reliable products for business at every scale. The portfolio includes network video recorders, client viewing workstations, centralized storage, analytic servers, rugged servers and video compression appliances.

While all our hardware solutions are based on enterprise-grade components that ensure long-term reliability, it’s our proprietary software tools that are game changers for everything from rapid, consistent installation to remote device monitoring and management to disaster recovery. We also provide award-winning customer service, walking alongside our partners from configuration and setup, to post-sales support.

The result? Our customers save time, reduce their risk and grow their margins. 

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

DC: Our vision is to remain the industry leader in video technology, providing innovative, best-in-class solutions for capturing, storing, and playing video content . Our goal is to be the most knowledgeable experts in our field and to continue to develop complementary tools that will assist the security industry with configuring, deploying and managing their video ecosystems. 

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

DC: There are multiple drivers to opportunity in 2023. Cybersecurity concerns are going to be a bigger influencer than ever before, as companies look to deploy new tools (both hardware and software).  Green initiatives will drive innovation around storage efficiencies such as video compression. Artificial intelligence (AI) will require more powerful compute capabilities at the edge and on premises. Internet of Things devices in businesses will continue to drive integrations within a building to make the building more efficient and more intelligent. Companies will utilize more AI tools to help them run their business.  Items such as surveillance cameras and access control doors will become an asset to businesses as the AI will help monetize the business intelligence that these systems provide.

What are your predictions for the security industry in the short and long term?

DC: Supply chain challenges will likely continue to plague our industry through most of 2023. The physical security industry will become more of an asset purchase to companies as we enhance and monetize business intelligence. Smart buildings are here to stay. Customers, employees and residence of these buildings are going to expect a certain experience from retailers, building owners and property management companies. The physical security industry will play an expanded role in protecting and enhancing the “in building” experience in 2023 and beyond. 

What are the biggest challenges afcing your company and/or others in the security industry?

DC: While it is less of a concern for us, due to the depth of connections that we have with Arrow, we know that supply chain challenges will remain for many throughout most of 2023. Economic uncertainty may delay projects in the short term. 

In addition, many new technologies are being developed will challenge interoperability and integration of systems. The industry will need to continue to develop standards and protocols to avoid buildings  deploying disparate smart solutions that will not provide additional value within the smart building ecosystem.

What do you enjoy most about being at your company – and in the security industry?

DC: The security industry is ever changing, with technological advancements continually expanding what’s possible. It’s exciting to be on the forefront of those changes, thanks to our corporate commitment to always be looking “Five Years Out.” We are grateful to be able to use our resources to help support and guide our customers – it’s an honor to be the trusted advisor for companies of all sizes and stages of maturity.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

DC: Seneca is excited to work with SIA for networking opportunities with event participation that will raise awareness of Seneca solutions and expertise. SIA offers many important resources, including events, committees and education, that our Seneca team will take advantage of during 2023. We believe the SIA membership can help guide our market direction through industry expertise provided by SIA.

How does your organization engage with SIA? What are your plans for involvement in the next year (e.g., events, accessing member resources)?

DC: Initially, we intend to grow our market awareness through our SIA membership with active participation in various programs. We are excited to join a committee (or two!) that is relevant to our business, using the opportunity to learn from others as well as share our expertise. We plan to engage in specific events including ISC West and SIAThere! for 2023.

We’re also excited about the industry specific resources available through SIA. As skills and needs become increasingly specialized by vertical, your resources will help us to serve the industry better. 

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.