SMP Robotics at the forefront of global security robotic revolution

The robotic transformation of the security industry

The COVID-19 pandemic is only accelerating the expansion of Automation, Robotics, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and changing how people live their daily lives. This expansion leads the way with technologies that are developed to solve problems, improve operations, streamline processes and assist people, to focus on learning new skills, creativity, and imagination.

Transformation of the physical security industry

One of the latest industries to be permanently transformed is physical security. The era of utilising security cameras is slowly changing into more advanced and more efficient technological applications - security robotic solutions.

SMP Robotics is a California-based company, which is a pioneer in developing robotic technologies, powered by AI, to assist, improve and deliver on new expectations in today’s world. One of their services is smart surveillance systems. This represents a proactive approach to security. The company, SMP Robotics’ Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Leo Ryzhenko, stated “Autonomous robotic technologies will become a driving force in future security solutions.”

Robotics and AI in autonomous security solutions

The robots can patrol 24/7, counteracting intrusion and communicating via voice message with guards

The company uses robotics and AI technology to implement autonomous security solutions, which reduce liability and overhead, as well as improving the quality of services. Robotic guards are capable of patrolling all types of facilities, in both urban and rural contexts.

The robots can patrol 24/7, counteracting intrusion and communicating via voice message with guards. The inspection robots, deployed by SMP Robotics, are easily integrated with many existing security technologies, armed with obstacle avoidance and anti-collision measures, automatically recharge, and can recognise faces up to 50 metres. As the world grows increasingly complex, technology like this is essential to ensure safety for all.

AI-enabled autonomous video monitoring ground vehicles

The advancements in technological breakthroughs of SMP Robotics position the company and its AI-powered, autonomous video monitoring ground vehicles, to be the most adaptable to any industry, cost-effective for clients’ business needs, in providing various types of services from public safety, crime prevention, to asset protection and physical security.

SMP Robotics continues to implement new innovative solutions and groundbreaking technologies in its latest generation of autonomous models. Currently, many were already deployed or in a process to be delivered to a number of key clients, in various industries throughout the globe, from oil & gas, nuclear power plants to data centers, healthcare facilities, and amusement parks.

Smart security robots

Tal Turner, the Vice President (VP) of Business Development and Partnerships, SMP Robotics, said “We provide autonomous, artificial intelligence, all-weather, all-surface, smart security robots that are turnkey and operate independently on their own, using real-time obstacle avoidance, face recognition, and other cutting-edge technological advancements.”

According to Coherent Market Insights, the Robots as a Service (RaaS) market direction will grow by 15.9% by 2028 and reach the threshold of 41.3 billion dollars. SMP Robotics stands at the forefront of the security robotic revolution, making an impactful change to make the world a safer place.

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Why face recognition as a credential is the ideal choice for access control?

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4 smart ways to use security to power the business of the future

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Security Executive Council’s SLRI unveils 2021 Corporate Security Organisational Structure, Cost of Services and Staffing Benchmark

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Kathleen Kotwica of the SEC discusses the state of corporate security research on The Security Podcasts: Women in Security Edition

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ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions’ Incedo Business access control solution offers greater versatility for Clockwise’s flexible workspaces

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TopSource provides a comprehensive payroll solution to Retail Hub Solutions

Retail Hub Solutions Ltd. is a subsidiary of Raymond Ltd. Retail Hub is engaged in sales of all Raymond brand like: Raymond Premium Apparel ColorPlus Park Avenue Parx Makers Notting Hill Multi-location existence Retail Hub required full HRIS and employee self-service module. Employee data collection was an issue due to the pan-India multi-location existence of the client. Employees were not getting payslips & Income tax reports on time. This led to incomplete employee data collection and distribution. A large number of employee queries were unanswered each month. Retail Hub approached TopSource Worldwide to provide a comprehensive payroll solution that needed to be delivered on time, accurately, and also be able to respond to their growing needs. Data fields editable TopSource Worldwide helped the client by making data fields editable by employees themselves TopSource Worldwide provided employee self-service through Portico that gave access to employees for their payslips and enabled them to make investment declarations online. The Payslip distribution took place through Portico to multiple locations. 24X7 secure access to payslips was provided by Portico from anywhere via the web. TopSource Worldwide provided the solution for HRIS with Portico, which had the data storage functionality and client contact was able to generate reports at any point in time. TopSource Worldwide helped the client by making data fields editable by employees themselves. Thus, it helped the client to gather the HRIS data on time and accurately. Facilitating internal reporting Special reports such as MIS, CTC, and many more were provided to facilitate internal reporting for finance and HR functions. All queries related to HR and Payroll are now tracked through a web-based system and they have substantially reduced in number. Retail Hub no longer spends time on administrative work and queries related to payroll. When necessary the HRIS data can be generated with a click of a button. They have eliminated the risk of issues caused due to employee dissatisfaction with payroll and are now getting their payroll reports on time. Online availability of information has assured Retail Hub employee satisfaction.

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Abloy UK secures Thames Water Contract

Abloy UK has been awarded a three-year contract with Thames Water, valued at an estimated ∼750k, to upgrade existing locking systems between now and June 2024. Thames Water is the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley. Cylinders and padlocks Products specified for the project include padlocks and a range of cylinders, which will be used to secure a variety of areas and assets. These include treatment plants and pumping stations on applications such as hatches, doors, and gates. They'll be used at over 22 sites in North and East London including Coppermills and Abbey Mills. Abloy cylinders combine flexibility with security, to provide unbeatable performance and meet the BS EN 1303 standard for Cylinder Locks. Abloy padlocks use a unique rotating disc principle and are renowned for their endurance and maximum resistance against physical attack, offering durability in even the severest of climatic conditions. Access control and keyless solution There is also the future potential to implement a PROTEC2 CLIQ access control system and BEAT keyless solution that combines a digital key, mobile application, and a heavy-duty, Bluetooth padlock, all managed with the visual Abloy OS user interface. Simon Jeff, Market Developer for Critical Infrastructure at Abloy UK, said, “We are delighted to have secured a contract of this size with such a prominent and well-respected company such as Thames Water, and look forward to successfully implementing the new locking systems over the next three years.”

Hikvision announces technology partnership with Yeastar for IP-based video intercom integration

Hikvision, an IoT solution provider with video as its core competency, announced a new technology partnership with Yeastar for IP-based video intercom integration. The integration provides a convenient solution for SME (small-medium enterprise) customers to remotely control and manage their intercom systems, as well as communicate with visitors. Remote communication Usually for SME customers, if all employees are out of the office, welcoming visitors is nearly impossible. But the integration of Hikvision’s video intercom and Yeastar IP PBX system will enable customers to easily communicate with visitors remotely. Even the receptionist who is not at a workstation won’t miss visitors, since the integration provides SMEs with visualised call management, video communications, and anywhere-anytime connectivity – yet outperforming across browsers, mobiles, and desktops. Benefits of integration With the integration, SME customers can: Answer and open a door from any time anywhere and see who is at the front door and converse easily via IP video phone. Auto-forward door phone calls to a mobile number when not answered. No more expensive and separate paging servers. The PBX built-in paging system enables easy broadcasting from the devices customers like (IP phone, mobile, or PC). Supported Yeastar products P-Series PBX System: Purpose-built for SMEs to fulfill more sophisticated communication needs, P-Series PBX is a converged system that wraps a suite of services around, including voice, video, applications, collaboration, and more. S-Series VoIP PBX: Easy to manage, configure, and install, the feature-rich S-Series unleashes the power of unified communications and meets the growing needs of SMEs. Yeastar Cloud PBX: A robust, flexible and easy-to-use hosted business phone system. The partnership with Yeastar will expand the scope of Hikvision intercom solution, and create more values for our customers" Expanding intercom solution “We are happy to announce the partnership with Yeastar, which will expand the scope of Hikvision intercom solution, and create more values for our customers. More collaboration across the industry is benefiting the market with a greater variety of functionality.” “Hikvision will persist in openness and work closely with technology partners to build a strong and mutually beneficial ecosystem,” says Adler Wu, Global Technology Partner Alliance Manager at Hikvision. Integrated PBX-Intercom solution “Hikvision has a proven record of providing high-quality IP-based intercom solutions, and we’re pleased to now call them an official Yeastar technology partner.” “With Yeastar & Hikvision, our mutual customers can take advantage of a market-leading, award-winning business phone system and are guaranteed to benefit from an integrated PBX-Intercom solution that improves productivity, streamline operations, and cut overheads,” adds Prince Cai, Vice President of Yeastar.

SALTO unveils the new XS4 Original+ smart locking solution with redefined design and a powerhouse chip

SALTO Systems (SALTO) has introduced the XS4 Original+, the next generation of the world’s most flexible and reliable smart locking solution that features a beautiful design, with a sleek flat reader in two new colours. SALTO XS4 Original+ The new SALTO XS4 Original+ takes the trusted and proven flagship XS4 Original electronic lock product family and incorporates the latest technology, to accommodate access control needs of both today and tomorrow. Our customers, partners and users rely on the XS4 every day, which is why we’ve made XS4 Original+ more powerful" “Our customers, partners and users rely on the XS4 every day, which is why we’ve made XS4 Original+ more powerful, capable, and redefined to elevate any door’s security, and management,” said Marc Handels, SALTO Systems’ Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Marc Handels adds, “When you have an excellent product like the SALTO XS4 Original electronic lock that has withstood both the test of time and technology, it makes sense to improve upon what is already working very well.” Embedded with BLUEnet functionality The SALTO XS4 Original+ design is based on the same proven housing and mechanical mechanisms of the XS4 Original. The XS4 Original+, however, is embedded with SALTO’s BLUEnet real-time functionality and SVN-Flex capability, which enables SALTO stand-alone smart XS4 Original+ locks to update user credentials directly at the door. The SALTO XS4 Original+ is compatible with the array of SALTO platform solutions, including SALTO Space data-on-card, SALTO KS Keys as a Service cloud-based access solution and SALTO’s JustIn Mobile technology for digital keys. The XS4 Original+ also includes RFID Mifare DESFire, Bluetooth LE, and NFC technology functionality. “By incorporating the latest in technology into the XS4 Original+ locking range, SALTO has delivered a product that extends up-to-date and comprehensive electronic access control to any door,” said Handels. Engine of XS4 Original+ XS4 Original+ is much faster than the XS4 Original, delivering more performance, new security architecture" The XS4 Original+ is much faster than the XS4 Original, delivering more performance, new security architecture and the same electronic functionalities, which is based on BLUEnet connectivity, and better power efficiency. The feature rich new security architecture, which is protected against internal and external attacks, makes everything more fluid, transforming the way users’ access, operators manage, and installers’ set-up the electronic lock. Catering to a range of access and customer needs There is an XS4 Original+ model for every type of access and customer need. The existing XS4 Original models are fully available in the XS4 Original+ product range, from the key override option to mechanical or electronic privacy models. Just as with the original version, the SALTO XS4 Original+ is suitable for a wide range of customer applications, including interior doors in educational or commercial buildings or tailored solutions for other specific building requirements. Easy to install and retrofit Easy to install and retrofit, the SALTO XS4 Original+ works with ANSI, Euro, DIN and Scandinavian door industry standards. Universally compatible, it can replace the existing door hardware and fits any door with unlimited model options. XS4 Original+ wide reader models are slightly wider and the reader is now flatter. “SALTO has long sought feedback from our end-users and partners on what they desire in an upgrade and, taking their input into account, we have developed the XS4 Original+ which delivers everything needed for current and future smart lock solutions,” said Aznar Sethna, SALTO Systems’ Chief Sales & Marketing Officer (CSMO). Aznar Sethna adds, “With restyle designs, industry-leading performance and advanced access control features, with impressive communication capabilities, all with incredible durability, the XS4 Original+ ensures customers get secure and safe access when they need it.” Redefined and stylish design The XS4 Original+ works with existing XS4 Original door hardware. A broad range of different models and functions make smart access to any door possible, in order to cover all needs of any type of building. Visually, the XS4 Original+ differs from the conventional XS4 Original only in a few details, with improved reader aesthetics. Thanks to a sleek design update, the XS4 Original+ looks better than ever Thanks to a sleek design update, the XS4 Original+ looks better than ever. The reader is now flatter and available in black and white colour options, for a simplified, modernised front. The ANSI, Euro Wide, and Scandinavian Wide standard reader models are a little wider, thereby creating a more harmonious version. The XS4 Original+ can be tailored to varying building and door needs, with a wide variety of colours and finishes, including the new Dark Bronze finish, and black or white reader options. These can be visualised on a wide range of door styles, by using the SALTO MyLock Configuration tool. Environment-friendly access control solution The XS4 Original+ is designed to minimise its impact on the environment. Today, SALTO Systems is carbon neutral for corporate factory operations and is committed to having net-zero climate impact, across the entire business, which includes manufacturing supply chains and all product life cycles. The XS4 Original+ is the latest model from SALTO to be delivered to customers as a net CO2-neutral access control solution. This concept involves offsetting the CO2 emissions generated during the manufacturing process and the logistics until it is delivered to the customer.

Yeastar and Dahua Technology jointly announce ECO partnership on PBX-Intercom integration

Yeastar, the provider of SME PBX systems, and Dahua Technology, a world-pioneering video-centric smart IoT solution, and service provider jointly announced a new ECO partnership on PBX-Intercom integration. The two top-notched companies are striving to provide a more cohesive and comprehensive UC&C solution for SMEs, helping their mutual and potential customers keep tabs on their places in real-time and manage the intercom system in no time. Anywhere-anytime remote intercom communications The excellent interoperability of Yeastar P-Series PBX System and Dahua’s intercom devices has been proven after a series of tests and certifications to capacitate anywhere-anytime remote intercom communications and public access control perfectly, allowing SMEs to quickly intercom, make zone paging, and even control door access to the premises – from anywhere without requiring any separate intercom/paging server. In simple terms, with the PBX-Intercom integration, SME customers can: Control intercom system remotely anytime from any Yeastar PBX extension See who is at the front door and converse easily via IP Video Phone or Yeastar Linkus Web Client Screen visitors at entrances, car parks & security barriers Automatically forward door phone calls to a mobile number or Linkus Mobile Client when not answered Creating smarter ecosystem “We are now glad to join hands with Dahua Technology to help our mutual customers streamline operations and improve working efficiency with easy deployment and all-inclusive features. ECO partnership is also in line with our common value pursuit – create more and better smart technology products & solutions – and keeping with our national innovation-led technology aspiration,” said Prince Cai, Vice President of Yeastar. “It’s great to have Yeastar in our Eco Partner Program. Dahua has been committed to building a smart ecosystem together with global technology partners and looking forward to creating joint value for customers through integrated solutions,” Peter Pan added, Dahua Global Technology Partner Alliance Director.

Advance Security Group unveils New Zealand’s first security robot, Harriet

Advance Security Group believes Harriet, New Zealand’s first security robot, will change the security industry as the first employee, who never needs a holiday, doesn’t need sick days and can work 24 hours a day. Security robot - Harriet The security robot, Harriet is capable of seeing obstacles, recognising licence plates, uniforms and faces. Mike Marr of Advance Security Group, said “It won’t mean people lose their jobs but rather, offer up new opportunities. What it does do is open up new opportunities and makes our industry more attractive for people with wider variance in the skills and opportunities that sit there.” Interest has proven to be strong already, with offers from ports, hospitals and airports.

Vectra reports high sales and strongest quarter in company history in 2020

Vectra (Vectra AI), a globally renowned company in network detection and response (NDR), has reported that in calendar 2020, sales continued to grow at a compound annual rate exceeding 100 percent and sales of Cognito Detect for Microsoft Office 365 accelerated, growing at a rate of 340 percent. These trends were driven in part by the rapid adoption of Microsoft Office 365 productivity applications, such as Microsoft Teams and heightened cyber security concerns, in the wake of numerous high-profile attacks in 2020. Vectra helps enterprises fight COVID-19 The positive results topped an impressive year for Vectra, which took a major role in securing many organisations fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to accelerate global expansion initiatives. Vectra solutions helped customers cut their risk of suffering a major security event by 63 percent in 2020" Vectra’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hitesh Sheth said “Vectra solutions helped customers cut their risk of suffering a major security event by 63 percent in 2020. In response to multiple high-profile supply chain breaches and infiltration of widely used business application, such as Office 365, it’s gratifying to see more companies broadening adoption of NDR solutions, to secure assets in the Cloud, data centres, end users and IoT resources.” He adds, “These successful cyber-attacks underline the value of threat detection solutions that secure an entire network infrastructure, including hybrid, the Cloud, data centres and corporate networks. Innovative Vectra NDR solutions do just that. Vectra customers have greater insight into threat landscapes and faster detection times. With Vectra, their ability to identify actual threats is 85 percent improved.” Vectra’s Cognito Detect software solution As cybercriminals targeted healthcare providers, manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Vectra’s Cognito product helped detect and arrest an in-process attack on Sanofi, the France-based multi-national pharma firm, contributing to vaccine development for Europe. (Sanofi joined Vectra in January 2020 to recap the attack and response, and share best practices moving forward) Vectra also added channel partners and product distributors worldwide, across both existing and new markets. Additions included Arrow Electronics as a distributor for the United Kingdom and Iberia, Westcon for Benelux countries, DACH and Sub-Sahara Africa regions, and Exclusive Networks for North Africa and the Middle East regions. The company also secured product distributors for Russia and CIS territories and, in the third quarter, unveiled a modernised global channel partner programme that provides enhanced training and support. Vectra’s new product integrations and features Building on this momentum, Vectra recently launched several new product integrations, features, and capabilities, including: Deep product integration with CrowdStrike Falcon Insight that delivers expanded response capabilities for Cognito Detect, enabling well-coordinated, instantaneous responses to thwart cyber-attacks directly at the device level. An integration programme with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (formerly Advanced Threat Protection) for Cognito and its lockdown feature. This further extends Vectra’s automated enforcement capabilities, to enable SOCs to stop ongoing attacks in real time. Improved ability to operationalise via the SIEM, especially in large enterprises, with a variety of logging enhancements. Extended product reach in the virtual data centre with Hyper-V sensor support. Launched Vectra Threat Intel that significantly increases the day-to-day (non-threat) value. Augmented Vectra AI with Vectra Threat Intelligence, to provide improved context and coverage, making it easier to find, identify, and remediate potential threats. Vectra wins multiple awards in 2020 Vectra was repeatedly recognised in 2020 for its state-of-the-art customer service model, winning the ‘best customer service’ category in the 2020 SC Europe Awards, with an industry-renowned 95 percent customer renewal rate. The company’s signature Cognito platform won industry recognition, as the ‘best security innovation in a SaaS product’ in the 2020 SaaS Awards. Cognito is also a six-time gold winner at the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards and a two-time winner of the Cyber Defense InfoSec Awards for NextGen cloud security and NextGen AI, and machine learning.

PSIA approves the Secure Credential Interoperability (SCI) 1.0 specification

The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) announces it has approved the Secure Credential Interoperability (SCI) 1.0 specification. The PSIA has been working with a broad group of industry pioneers in the access control industry to come up with this specification, which is likely to have a significant influence on the future of secure mobile credentials. Mohammad Soleimani, the Chief Technology Officer of Kastle Systems and the Chairman of the SCI Work Group, introduced this concept to the organisation in 2020 and has had a strong influence in engaging other companies in its development. Compatible secure credential “A standard for secure mobile credentials has been long overdue in the industry. SCI relies on established standards and the Public Key Infrastructure, to provide a simple, but elegant solution,” said Soleimani. SCI addresses the need for a universally compatible secure credential for the physical access control industry in the form of cards, fobs, mobile devices, and wearables. Progress has been dramatic, with the technology being demonstrated at a PSIA technical meeting in August featuring apps from IDEMIA and Johnson Controls and a Kastle reader developed by WaveLynx. “It has been our mission from day one, to drive secure credentials and interoperability into the market” said Laurie Aaron, Executive Vice President at WaveLynx Technologies Corp. “Joining PSIA to collaborate and execute on a standard that is made available to all, has been a fast track to mission success.” Different mobile platforms The SCI specification helps the industry to take steps towards the last mile of credential evolution" One of the important characteristics of SCI is its interoperability across different mobile platforms including iOS and Android or devices with the ability to generate ephemeral key pair, which can be communicated over various protocols such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), and UWB (Ultra-wide band). “The SCI specification helps the industry to take steps towards the last mile of credential evolution where interoperability of credentials can exist. The simplicity of the use of a public key leveraging standards and best practices ensure a secure and open way to manage credentials that takes proprietary out of the picture.” says Jason Ouellette, the Head of Technology and Business Innovation for Johnson Controls Access Control and Video Solutions business. Security industries’ efforts Participants in the spec development include, ASSA ABLOY, Deister Electronics, Farpointe Data (a dormakaba company), HID, IDEMIA, Kastle Systems, LenelS2, rf IDEAS, SentryCard, Siemens, and Johnson Controls. “This is an important milestone in the security industries’ efforts to enable flexible, interoperable and scalable solutions,” states Peter Boriskin, Chief Technology Officer for ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Americas. “It will be essential to consider how this and other standards apply across various industries, and how current and emerging standards impact each other.”

RaySecur appoints former Boston Police Commissioner, Ed Davis to the company’s Advisory Board

RaySecur, a security imaging technology company with the world’s first DHS Safety Act-designated millimetre wave (mmWave) desktop scanner, for mail and package threat detection, announced that former Boston Police Commissioner, Ed Davis has joined the company’s Advisory Board. Ed Davis will leverage his decades of law enforcement experience, in order to help RaySecur accelerate adoption of its flagship MailSecur mail and package threat detection solutions. MailSecur scanners MailSecur scanners use safe mmWaves to see inside of objects. They can detect more and smaller threats than X-ray scanners, including explosives, weapons, radiation, and other suspicious contents, as well as liquids and powders at 300x the sensitivity of X-rays. Unlike X-ray scanners, there are no safety concerns or need for specialised training. Mail threat incidents have been increasing, with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), responding to an average of more than 10 dangerous mail or package incidents each day, for the last three years. In the last 16 months, AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine plant, Subway Sandwiches’ corporate headquarters, and Dr. Anthony Fauci have all been victims of dangerous mail threats. Mail and package threat detection Mail and package threat detection is an underestimated and vitally important component of public safety" Ed Davis stated, “Mail and package threat detection is an underestimated and vitally important component of public safety, and I’m excited to join the Advisory Board of a company that offers the only safe and scalable solution for organisations and individuals, to combat this problem.” He adds, “It’s crucial that law enforcement, enterprises, correctional facilities and government institutions have access to this technology, and ensure they can seamlessly scan every package, in a quick and efficient manner. I look forward to working with RaySecur, to help meet this important security need.” RaySecur's Advisory Board Ed Davis is the latest addition to a world-class team comprising technology, military, security and law enforcement professionals. He has a 35-year proven track record and is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of business strategy and security services firm, Edward Davis Company. Ed Davis served as the Boston Police Commissioner from December 2006 to October 2013, where he led the highly successful response to the Boston Marathon bombing. Prior to that, he was the Superintendent of the Lowell, Massachusetts Police Department for 12 years. Davis also serves on AT&T’s Advisory Board and was a former Safety Advisory Board Member at Uber. Enhancing mail security “We are honoured to have an esteemed law enforcement figure, such as Ed Davis join our Advisory Board and help us continue closing the mail security gap,” said Alex Sappok, Ph.D., the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RaySecur. Alex adds, “Ed’s strong interest in RaySecur not only highlights the importance of improving mail security across industry and government, but also our solutions, which can easily address the problem at scale.”