Five Insights about Selecting a Video Analytics Solution

When choosing a video analytics solution, it's crucial to select the right one to avoid investing in a system that doesn't meet your needs.

A strategic approach is to start with a single analytic module (such as perimeter security) to prove the vendor's ROI and performance. Once validated, you can expand by adding cameras and other analytics to increase returns and business benefits.

Here are some key insights for choosing the right video analytics solution and provider to get off on the right foot:

1. Focus on real-world accuracy

It’s one thing to buy a solution that performs well in a laboratory, another to select something that works accurately in the real world.

Look for physical security solutions that perform well in various lighting situations, common scenarios in your environment (such as people moving in different directions) and indoor/outdoor camera placements.

Seek companies that have invested in their own training datasets and developed proprietary technology, demonstrating a serious commitment to accuracy.

2. Select a vendor committed to product development and growth

Choose a vendor that actively develops their product and offers analytics for a wide range of physical security threats. This allows you to benefit from product improvements and advances, protecting your investment.

Avoid "one-trick ponies" with a single analytic (which forces you to go through another selection cycle and integrate multiple solutions when you want to increase capabilities) or those making minimal ongoing investments, who may end up with a stale and obsolete product.

3. Avoid outdated technology

With AI technology advancing rapidly, ensure you're not buying dated solutions. A dated solution based on generic software will not offer the same ROI benefits as the latest proprietary technology.

Look for companies with a team of AI scientists and developers delivering the latest improvements and algorithms, such as transformers. Be wary of vendors that are mainly marketing organizations, selling generic technology.

4. Choose a scalable solution

Select a vendor offering multiple analytics modules. This allows easy addition of other capabilities at reduced cost, avoiding the risk of finding another vendor and trying to integrate multiple offerings.

A scalable solution also enables expansion to more cameras for increased coverage.

5. Ensure alignment with your deployment model

Deployment options include:

● On-premises servers or your data center

● Public cloud (e.g., AWS or Azure)

● Edge devices (e.g., Jetson)

Select a vendor supporting your preferred deployment model to avoid implementation difficulties. For instance, if your company has moved to the cloud, an on-premises-only solution could create significant hurdles, extra approvals and unexpected costs.

You also need to choose a vendor who can work with your existing video surveillance and access control network.