6 Factors for Integrators to Look for in Video Content Analytics Software

Video surveillance systems are common in a variety of settings, from municipal school systems to college campuses, hospitals, banks and retail stores, to name a few. The market is growing exponentially and has evolved to include video content analytics (VCA) platforms that complement existing video surveillance systems by analyzing both live and archived video footage, thus making video searchable, actionable, and quantifiable. Video analytics technology allows organizations to maximize their investments in video surveillance and extract meaningful intelligence from video data.

The technology is used in a variety of industries, and it has many applications for a variety of end users within any organization: The analysis supports marketing departments; planning teams from construction companies to university administration and urban developers; retail operations; and critical infrastructure. For example, bank managers can analyze traffic in their branch offices to intervene before congestion and queues deter customers from transacting. Cities can quantify traffic and identify navigation patterns for improving transport and traffic flows. Retailers can review data visualizations to better understand shopper demographics, product interaction, visitor paths and dwell time to optimize store layout, product placement and customer experience.

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Because video intelligence software is applied so broadly – and so differently by each type of user – the requirements for each deployment are unique and dependent on the individualized needs of the implementation. Video intelligence solutions are typically integrated with several other applications and architected to ensure seamless integration with complementary technologies, such as Video Management System (VMS), Physical Security Information Management Systems (PSIM), Command & Control Systems (C&C), and Cloud-based Video Surveillance Solutions.

Furthermore, with each VMS user having unique IT settings that depend on their available hardware and software, and whether they prefer cloud solutions versus hardware appliances, or a hybrid solution. In such complex environments, systems integrators are increasingly called upon to identify an appropriate video analysis technology for their customers, and to manage the implementation so the customer gets maximum benefit from each of the integrated technologies.

How Integrators Choose Video Intelligence Solutions
The goal in any integration is to drive down complexity and cost while dramatically increasing scale-out performance. When considering various video analytics solutions, integrators should consider whether the technology is:

1. Ensure that the current investment in video content analytics can evolve alongside the end user’s needs and can accommodate growth.
2. Choose a solution with extensive functionality that can be maximized as the end user organization becomes more familiar and agile with video analytics and as its needs evolve.
3. Easy to integrate. The video intelligence solution should integrate as openly and flexibly as possible with market-leading video solutions that complement existing infrastructure as the solutions and end user organization evolve.
4. Low touch. Just as critical as seamless implementation, seamless administrative management and maintenance of the technology is key.
5. Delivered effectively. Integrators need options — especially when it comes to deployment models for diverse business types with varying technology investments. By selecting a solution that flexibly offers different deployment models, enabling delivery on-premise, in the cloud or through a hybrid model, the end user and its systems integrator ensure that the solution can adapt to and integrate seamlessly with the end customer’s other applications.
6. Intuitive to use. End users want to be able to leverage newly integrated technology as soon as possible. Vendors that offer comfortable training options and an intuitive interface minimize complexity in the aftermath of an integration.

Comprehensive video intelligence can be achieved without complex deployment or maintenance: By carefully selecting a video content analytics solution that can be deployed and scaled to meet the customer’s specific needs, technology integrators can continue to add value to existing customer integrations and keep them coming back for more critical guidance, technology solutions and systems integrations.