20 HORIZONS
NETWORK VIDEO:
Axis Communications and Genetec, technology leaders in internet protocol (IP) based surveillance, examine why retailers are beginning to realise the additional benefi ts network video can offer
Research (CRR), 71% of UK retailers are considering migrating to network video. At a time when shrinkage is on the
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rise, margins are low, competition is fi erce and the economic climate is uncertain, retailers need to maximise any investment in technology spend and consider how it can positively impact the bottom line. While legacy investments in analogue
video surveillance have primarily been based around loss prevention and security, network video in addition to enhancing a loss prevention strategy, also offers a platform to extend the role of video to optimising business processes, achieving operational effi ciencies and gathering business intelligence on store activity.
HDTV provides superior image quality
The technology companies said that the video surveillance market is following the trend in the consumer video industry, with users demanding better image quality. HDTV network cameras offer a minimum of three times the resolution of the analogue CCTV cameras that exist in many retailers today. They added that applying network
cameras with HDTV performance to a retail
ccording to the Retail use and experience of CCTV in the UK report conducted by the Centre for Retail
surveillance system will signifi cantly boost operators in identifying and tracking suspect shoppers real time, enhance interrogation of video footage post event resulting in reduced operational investigation time and achieve a higher probability of gaining positive identifi cation. Benefi ts can also extend to include liabilities and service level improvement. For example, powerful digital zoom capabilities can be used during live monitoring and playback, which can be useful when dealing with a contentious customer transaction by identifying the denomination on a bank note.
HDTV delivering added value While the benefi ts of an increase in image quality are abundantly clear with HDTV cameras, cost-effective deployment is still a key consideration for retailers, particularly given the current economic climate. Implementing “multi-view streaming” where a single HDTV network camera can deliver simultaneous video streams from different areas of a scene potentially offers retailers improved security coverage whilst deploying fewer cameras. For example, a network video surveillance system can treat a single HDTV camera as multiple “virtual” cameras offering three different views, with each view monitoring a different cash register at the checkout. This also enables video searches to be performed individually on each “virtual” camera. Not discounting the savings on camera hardware alone, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is signifi cantly reduced through less cabling, a much quicker installation, lower power consumption, less software licensing and lower ongoing maintenance.
Optimised aisle monitoring An innovative use of HDTV cameras, addresses a challenge retailers face with monitoring shopping aisles. The landscape format (4:3) traditionally offered by cameras
RETAIL TECHNOLOGY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012
is inappropriate as large parts of the fi eld of view – specifi cally the sides of the image – are redundant. The optimum fi eld of view for many shopping aisles is a narrow horizontal view, with higher vertical coverage (see picture on page 21). A network video system that supports rotation of a 16:9 widescreen HDTV image, into a 9:16 format, offers a vertically orientated video stream that captures more usable video along an aisle, which is of particular relevance to high shelving environments.
Benefi ts of remote access An inherent benefi t of network video is the ability to gain authorised access to live or recorded video from any network location, including via mobile devices. With the CRR survey revealing that 68% of UK retailers require wider organisational access to video, retailers making the step to IP based surveillance, can benefi t from a system, which enables a proactive approach to identifying potential threats. Axis and Genetec highlighted how remote video access can also aid the business to be more responsive to the need for change. For example, enabling merchandising departments to remotely audit store compliance with a promotion or end-cap display and instantly correct display guidelines that have not been adhered to. Also, with enterprise video management systems, cameras and information from multiple stores can be accessed at the same time improving response time and simplifying processes.
Flexibility and scalability Network video systems based on H264, a compression format used widely in the consumer video market, can also reduce video bandwidth and storage utilisation by up to 80%, relative to legacy formats used in many installations today.
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