Exclusive: The digital transformation of video surveillance

Rishi Lodhia, Managing Director EMEA at Eagle Eye Networks, examines recent developments in video surveillance technology

Among the many challenges businesses have faced in the past 12 months, one trend seen across most sectors is an unprecedented acceleration in technology-led change. In adapting to lockdown, remote working and the need to protect colleagues, customers and the public in general, organisations everywhere have embraced innovative digital transformation. In the video surveillance industry, the pace of recent technology development has helped trigger a growing recognition of the wider business value of video solutions.

Whether it’s the use of video to manage social distancing or occupancy levels in external and internal spaces, reducing consumer/citizen on-site wait times, or the proactive monitoring of supply chains, video has demonstrated its broadening role in keeping businesses, premises and people safe.

In fact, more business leaders than ever before are evaluating how video data can help them make better and more informed decisions so they can be more responsive and agile when handling future challenges. In doing so, they are focusing on a range of important capabilities and demonstrable benefits:

Video surveillance is moving to the cloud

With demand for video solutions connected to the Internet growing, organisations are also adopting cloud-enabled platforms to generate benefits that go far beyond that of simple surveillance alone. Recent research carried out by Eagle Eye Networks underlines the point, with 63% of organisations participating in the Cloud Video Surveillance Camera2021 survey now using cloud-only recording. That isn’t surprising, given cloud-based video surveillance can deliver major cost savings, heightened data security, remote access and maintenance, increased scalability and disaster recovery over traditional technology hosted on-premises. This adds up to a compelling business case which is accelerating the adoption of cloud-based solutions.

Transformative analytics is improving business operations

No longer confined to security alone, video surveillance systems are becoming recognised as a valuable tool for generating Business Intelligence (BI). Generating live metrics and data that can be integrated with other data sources to deliver in-the-moment insights and operational intelligence, today’s cloud-powered video surveillance platforms are capable of delivering greater situational awareness in a variety of use cases. This includes the emergence of sector and application specific solutions that will directly address user-specific requirements, such as the ability to identify different age groups, genders, or whether visitors entering a building are wearing face masks or maintaining social distancing.

IT departments are taking ownership of video surveillance

For decades, the security team owned the video surveillance system in an office setting. However, in recent years, IT has increasingly come to the fore as organisations start to leverage video for business process improvement.

As keepers of the enterprise network, their deep understanding of the importance of cybersecurity means they are now taking the lead on the management of video surveillance systems. As organisations start to integrate video with other core business applications like point of sale, access control, process control and manufacturing systems, this trend will become increasingly important.

Demand for open, integrated systems is growing

Determined to extend the value of their existing infrastructure investments, organisations are demanding solutions that make it fast and easy to deploy new applications and technologies capable of accelerating workload innovation and process adherence. The availability of powerful video management systems (VMS) can handle all the heavy lifting of interfacing with cameras, recording video, securely transmitting and storing video to the cloud and make video available for use in all integrated applications.

The ability to intelligently monitor, record and analyse digital video footage has seen business and security professionals quickly embrace solutions that optimise existing operational processes while also playing a vital role in managing the safe return to work. It’s a process of digital transformation that will continue to bring positive change in the months and years ahead.

This article was published in the April 2021 edition of International Security Journal. Pick up your FREE digital copy here