by Brian Baker

“Video analytics don’t work.

I’m tired of hearing this.  As it relates to analytics, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure.  The success of a video analytics-enabled implementation is tied to the willingness of the seller/installer to:

- Plan system requirements with the end user
- Put the proper emphasis on camera selection and placement
- Consider environmental factors that can impact success.

I have learned from industry colleagues that the security value chain makes most of its margin on hardware.  I guess that’s no surprise given the industry is still driven at its core by physical products made of bent metal, stamped out silicon, cables and other physical components, with perhaps a bit of operating system software sprinkled in.  Also, I believe selling hardware is easier: Price it, install it, connect it, do some simple configuration, let it run, collect on maintenance contracts.

Video analytics, however, is not hardware.  The common denominator of unsuccessful deployments is the perfect storm of overselling the capabilities of the software and the lack of a trained expert when it comes time to install and configure.  Let’s first acknowledge that it’s software, and that it requires a different approach.  More next week in The Finest Whine, pt 2!