Smarter, more efficient technologies are underscoring the importance of components once considered an afterthought in video system design and installation.
Rapid change has been a constant within the industry for the past few years, and change remains a main part of “business as usual” for security professionals and end users alike. Of the many changes, the most prevalent has been the continued evolution of networked products and systems, with more and more end users migrating from analog to IP-based video, access control and other systems.
The increased integration between security and non-security systems makes up a second main category where advancements have significantly contributed to wholesale industry-wide change. As a greater number and wider variety of products incorporate network capability, integrated systems become even more important in providing the data and information necessary to improve security using predictive analysis, for example, which can help detect incidents before they can occur. The addition of non-security systems and devices to the mix means that in addition to strengthening security, intelligence can also be applied to business processes, allowing end users to streamline and maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of marketing, merchandising, staffing levels, operational procedures and more. This is the promise of the Internet of Things, which the industry has been talking a great deal about lately.