Some security dealers and platform providers are reluctant to share details about pricing and margins, but most of those interviewed for this article were willing to discuss the subject in broad terms.
Central Station Video Monitoring: Options for Pricing
Advances in surveillance video equipment and widespread availability of broadband connectivity such as DSL and cable modems have made possible a range of video monitoring options. How do these options impact a dealer’s operations? What is required to support them? How should they be priced? And how profitable are they?
Because video monitoring is still an emerging business opportunity, some security dealers and platform providers are reluctant to share details about pricing and margins, but most of those interviewed for this article were willing to discuss the subject in broad terms about pricing structure and profitability.
Video Verification
One of the most common forms of video monitoring is video verification. With this service, a clip from a surveillance video camera is sent to the central station when triggered either by internal motion detection built into the camera or through a trigger from an alarm system — such as when someone opens a protected door. Having the video image helps the central station operator determine whether an intruder is present or whether the event was triggered by some other cause such as an animal.