Headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, Commend International GmbH develops and manufactures leading Intercom security and communication solutions locally and markets them globally via an extensive network of subsidiaries and partners. Commend employs about 200 staff at its head office, with another 400+ people maintaining its global network under the Commend brand. The Commend Group is a member of the Dutch-based TKH corporation.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
COMMEND: Our communication systems and solutions for emergency and threat response enable an efficient, quick-responding management of public buildings, industrial facilities and public traffic infrastructures. Whether it’s providing customer service in a noisy car park, managing an emergency situation in an industrial facility or responding to school violence, Commend systems provide reliable assistance with trusted, high-quality communication as well as early response in challenging situations. In everyday use, the systems help to ensure economically efficient workflows. Market segments include Building Security, Car Parks, Prisons & Police, Maritime, Public Transport, Town Centres & Smart Cities, Energy & Public Utilities, Oil & Petrochem, Universities & Schools, Lifts, Hospitals, Tunnels and Airports.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
COMMEND: Following in the footsteps of VirtuoSIS, our world-first 100% software-based Intercom server, 2021 has seen the launch of our Symphony Bridge as a next step towards Cloud-based services. It allows classic (non-cloud) Commend systems to be used seamlessly with Commend’s cloud-native Symphony services. This is in line with our hallmark policy of “Evergreen technology”, which provides the industry’s highest TCO. Other innovations to launch later this year include innovative additions to our series of outdoor and indoor touch-screen Intercom stations.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
COMMEND: Our product ranges include stationary and mobile Intercom Control Desks, terminals and servers, including related apps and control software. Latest developments are focused on our cloud-native Commend Symphony services such as Door Call solutions for buildings. Development, production and after-sales service are focused on security, ensuring that all our products are built “secure by design” around a multi-level security model (physical, network and data security + fail safety). And since security starts at home, our entire product development, production and service environments are fully ISO 27001 certified. In addition, Commend holds memberships in security-focused organizations such as the Center for Internet Security (CIS). All these measures enable us to serve our customers’ need for trusted communication solutions.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
COMMEND: Commend is active in a wide selection of markets. We are noticing a general trend towards decentralized, fully networked solutions, specifically in areas such as Smart City environments. This is complemented by a rising demand for all-in-one full-service Intercom communication and security solutions such as our cloud-based Symphony services.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
COMMEND: General trends are increasingly focusing on security, as evidenced by a growing demand for trusted, secure Intercom solutions across the board. There is a definite need for deep-level, dedicated security ‘by design’ instead of simple ‘add-on’ security features. The reasons for this are manifold, with contributing factors ranging from the recent rise in terror attacks and cyber-crime, to the current coronavirus pandemic.
Other important trends include AI-based applications such as speech recognition and automated question answering, as well as automation of communication and security related processes, such as automated monitoring or emergency and evacuation support. We are actively engaged in serving these emerging trends.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
COMMEND:
- Cloud-based communication and security services (e.g. the scalable, centrally managed Commend Symphony Door Call solution for multi-tenant buildings with audio/video mobile communication and control);
- Commend Symphony Bridge for seamless integration of legacy Commend equipment into Symphony services (“Evergreen Technology”), ensuring the industry’s highest long-term TCO;
- Commend Concerto Series of indoor and outdoor Intercom stations; these provide special features such as an Emergency Mode that switches the normal interactive UI to an emergency communication layout to enable emergency-relevant functions (e.g. activation of an emergency call button, display of escape routes, announcement of evacuation instructions, etc.);
- im6, the world’s first multi-sensory Intercom module for OEM solutions; this brings together content sources for all communication-related senses (text/image/video/vision, audio/hearing, interaction/touch) in a single module for central control and distribution: e.g. by converging various web, audio and video sources for public displays in Smart City environments.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
COMMEND: Our diversified range of target markets, combined with out healthy corporate structure, have allowed us to cope well with the global pandemic situation. Also, we have expanded, and will continue to expand, our global footprint and reinforce important trusted relationships with partners and suppliers.
