Mounting pressures on the resources of security services, coupled with advances in supporting technology such as 5G, are currently seeing organisations’ appetites for tech-driven surveillance systems explode. In spite of the controversial implications such technology may have for individual privacy and human rights around the world, one study anticipates that the so-called crowd analytics market’s value would grow from around $385 million to more than $1.1 billion by 2021, at a compound annual growth rate of 24% over that period.

Amid that massive boom, global consulting firm Atos has entered the video analytics market, with its swoop for software firm Ipsotek. Founded in 2001, the London based firm offers clients an innovative platform, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) permitting users to efficiently manage automatically-generated alerts in real-time.

Ipsotek's VISuite provides multi-camera tracking capabilities, and may be used across a variety of use cases including crowd management, smoke detection, intrusion detection, perimeter protection, number plate recognition and traffic management.

“We are excited to join forces with Atos and are confident that our combined capabilities offer significant value to our respective clients. We look forward to creating a great success story together,” said Boghos Boghossian, CTO and Co-founder of Ipsotek.

Ipsotek has executed some 600 projects in 38 countries for clients looking to secure government assets, airports, and public spaces – such as the London Eye, among others. For example, at the start of the year, the firm was awarded a security systems project at the Katara Culture Village in Doha, Qatar, in partnership with Mannai, a Qatari based company listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange.

The firm’s VISuite AI platform and advanced VISuite FR facial recognition system were selected and approved by the Qatar Ministry of Interior to improve the security of the cultural village, as well as provide business intelligence there.

In order to support governments and local authorities in their modernization plans for public safety (Police, Fire and Rescue Services, Emergency Medical Services) and to combat more effectively homeland risks, Atos already provides a modular safety and rescue offer. This new acquisition will see Atos’ and Ipsotek’s combined capabilities build on the previous expertise of both firms then, offering a proposition across the entire value chain for the public sector, retail, manufacturing, transportation, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Pierre Barnabé, Senior Executive Vice President, Global Head of Big Data & Security at Atos, commented, “With this strategic move, Atos is reinforcing its leading position in Edge and Computer Vision and complementing its existing end-to-end offering in Edge AI/ML. Ipsotek’s extensive experience, its highly skilled experts and powerful product suite will strengthen the Atos teams and create a truly unique offering on the market.”

Atos’ acquisition of Ipsotek will add a team of roughly 50 professionals to the consultancy. The deal is expected to conclude during the second quarter of 2021, and will conclude for an undisclosed fee.