Australia’s largest pharmacy retailer, Chemist Warehouse, rolled out an IP-based video surveillance system consisting of 5,500 Axis Communications network cameras and Milestone Systems enterprise VMS at its 240 stores nationwide to monitor prescription drugs. The retailer had used the cameras and VMS for more than five years. Camera models deployed include fixed domes, outdoor vandal resistant HD domes, HD network cameras, 3-megapixel HD cameras.
Australia's largest pharmacy retailer, Chemist Warehouse, rolled out an IP-based video surveillance system consisting of 5,500 Axis Communications network cameras and Milestone Systems enterprise VMS at its 240 stores nationwide to monitor prescription drugs. The retailer had used the cameras and VMS for more than five years. Camera models deployed include fixed domes, outdoor vandal resistant HD domes, HD network cameras, 3-megapixel HD cameras.
The Australian pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, with a raft of stringent compliance criteria that must be satisfied on an ongoing basis. The security of prescribed medication is paramount and maintaining a reliable security network is an industry regulation. In order to remain at the forefront of pharmacy services in Australia, Chemist Warehouse, needed to work with a solution that was reliable as well as scalable to keep up with their expansion.
“As with all Australian pharmacies, we stock a large variety of sought-after prescription and over-the-counter medications,” said Ryan Calvert, IT Operations Manager, Chemist Warehouse. “Because of this, we cannot afford to have even one camera down.”
“Our blind testing revealed that Axis' cameras have a less than a one per cent failure rate, compared to cameras from other vendors which generally had a failure rate of between four and five per cent,” explained Calvert. Chemist Warehouse chose an IP-based system because of its open platform, infrastructure to support evolving software applications and network integration, such as adding software applications onto its existing network as they develop. In addition, the system's scalability could provide for future surveillance needs in a way analog solutions could not, thus investments could be futureproofed, hence reducing total cost of ownership and increasing long-term ROI.
Axis cameras' compatibility with Milestone software was also a bonus for Chemist Warehouse, according to Angelo Salvatore, Manager, Australia, Milestone. “Milestone enterprise VMS enables Chemist Warehouse to manage, control, view, search and export the live or recorded image feed from the latest Axis new generation network cameras, over hundreds of sites without complex networking and design considerations,” said Salvatore. “By choosing the non-propriety, open platform Milestone IP video management solution, Chemist Warehouse has the ability to customize the system to ensure it fits both the current and future needs of the organization's security and business goals.”
“With so many different stores and thus so many different layouts and traffic figures to contend with, it was important that we used software that could be tailored according to the demands of each store,” said Calvert. Calvert pointed out the company did not have to hire additional IT specialist to view recorded footage over the network. Summing up the Axis solution, Calvert said he has been extremely happy with the reliability and scalability of the Axis Network cameras for many years.