Over the course of last year, security vendors have taken part in complex projects across verticals. In these projects, the end user is aiming to have their security as well as non-security needs – for example process and efficiency improvement – addressed.
Over the course of last year, security vendors have taken part in complex projects across verticals. In these projects, the end user is aiming to have their security as well as non-security needs – for example process and efficiency improvement – addressed.
Retail
In retail, for example, storeowners are now in constant need to understand customer behavior, so as to optimize store layout and provide a better shopping experience amid higher competition. Various types of video analytics, from people counting and queue management, can help in this regard. Video integrated with POS, further, can help determine how many visitors to a store have actually made a purchase, thus helping the retailer figure out better sales and marketing strategies.
There are also integrated solutions that enable customers to better engage with products. “We just announced an expanded partnership with Les Bouchages Delage, a company that makes specialty bottle closures. We had originally worked with them in creating intelligent NFC closures for a luxury cognac brand, but now we’re bringing our NFC technologies into a wider array of Les Bouchages Delage caps,” said Mark Allen, GM for Premises at
Identiv. “The idea here is to allow consumers to better engage with their product, the bottle of wine or spirits. Consumers can tap their Android or iOS device to the cap of the bottle and easily register their purchase and receive special offers. It’s about expanding the use of technology to increase customer engagement, which is a win for everyone.”
Utilities/manufacturing
Then there’s utilities and manufacturing, where operators rely more and more on video integrated with other factory automation systems for inspection quality control and preventive maintenance.
“Today, utilities are starting to use our thermal security cameras for perimeter protection as well as our radiometric thermal cameras, integrated with temperature trending software, for predictive maintenance,” said Daniel Gundlach, GM and VP of Security at
FLIR Systems. “The data from the software allows facility managers to remotely inspect equipment and identify any asset at risk of overheating prior to burnout. The result is substantial savings for the customer.”
“In one particularly challenging application, IDIS surveillance needs to integrate with remotely controlled bridge cranes, in order for operators to accurately synchronize between real-time video images and the operation of the cranes,” said Joon Jun, President of Global Business Division at
IDIS. “Camera views had to be aligned with the laser positioning system and the entire new system had to be deployed within the tight window of the site’s 20-day annual maintenance shutdown. Now, as an operator control the crane, the system switches views automatically between camera presets, while IDIS real-time IP video transmission allows the crane movements to be optimized with no delay. The result is not only improved performance and safety, but now all processes are backed by a full visual audit trail.”
Transportation/smart city
In transportation, security equipment is often used to smoothen traffic flow or perform other management tasks. Cameras integrated with a traffic management system, for example, can allow self-adaptive traffic light to adjust the length of red or green signals based on the present traffic condition, or help operators make better transportation plans. “We’re seeing examples of cities deploying our thermal cameras with Acyclica, our traffic management software, to improve mobility,” Gundlach said. “While the thermal cameras detect vehicles, the software analyzes destination statistics, travels times and arrival on red or green lights. All of this data helps cities understand traffic patterns and congestion so that steps can be taken to improve traffic flow.”
Venue management
More and more, access control can be integrated with other technologies to enhance not only security but also management. “Recently, Vanderbilt used its ACT365 cloud-based access control and video management solution to help the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which wanted to maximize the use of their facilities by getting as many people on to their courts every day as possible. The ACT365 solution integrated with a platform called ClubSpark, a venue management tool from Sportlabs. It allows tennis courts to be booked through a simple process, while allowing users to have remote management control for analyzing door status within a specific facility (or chain of them),” said Ross Wilks, Head of Marketing Communications at
Vanderbilt. “Tennis players make and pay for bookings using ClubSpark from their mobile devices, then receive a text message with a pin code that is also communicated to ACT365. When players arrive at the court, they enter the code into a reader that opens the court gate.”