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| ISC West has seen manufacturers' efforts to simplify the installation, service and deployment of security solutions for systems integrators |
Efficiencies come in all shapes and forms for systems integrators in the security industry, and ISC West 2016 was a testament to manufacturers' efforts to simplify installation, service, maintenance and deployment of IP video specifications for installers.
GURU smartphone app with audit reporting capabilities
March Networks, Ottawa, Canada, a provider of intelligent IP video solutions, unveiled new service and support capabilities to help certified partners and customers access at-a-glance intelligence on their video surveillance networks. The video installation audit and managed services system visualisation tools introduced at the show automate configuration and inventory reporting, making it easier to get a complete overview of March Networks system installations and more accurately manage even the largest enterprise video networks.
A new installation audit feature available in the latest version of March Networks’ free GURU Smartphone Application enables technicians to run installation reports on any 8000 Series Hybrid NVR or RideSafe GT Series Hybrid Transit NVR system. The report includes a comprehensive snapshot of a system’s key configuration details, including: device, network and storage information; disk status; text channels; camera data rates; and a thumbnail image of each connected camera’s field-of-view.
The installation audit lets integrators quickly review and verify system settings once an installation is complete. It also allows them to share the report with a customer if desired, either to support existing service level agreements or simply to provide a detailed reference document. The report is especially valuable for integrators working with subcontractors on large, multi-site installations, allowing them to confirm quality and consistency at each location.
March Networks Insight for multi-site video installation monitoring
In addition, a new offering available through March Networks Managed Services now makes it possible to administer large, multi-site video surveillance networks more efficiently.
Called Insight, it provides a visual overview of the video system through secure, online dashboards. After logging into Insight, they can view their entire video installation on an interactive map and manipulate the data to see outstanding service issues and product warranty information. Another dashboard displays data on issues and trends in a series of charts and graphs that can be changed by date, issue type and other criteria to help customers get the information they need in a format that’s easy to review and understand.
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| The free GURU smartphone application comes with new audit reporting capabilities, making it easier to get a complete overview of March Networks system installations |
“The GURU mobile app now has important changes that appeal to the integrator community and includes a QR code that makes it easier to get information necessary to troubleshoot and maintain equipment, reducing installation and service time for installers,” says Ru Wadasinghe, Vice President of Professional Services and CIO. “It’s applicable across the entire line of products and the QR codes make channel partners’ lives easier, especially in tracking thousands of devices across the network,” he says. They can send reports to customers with auditing capabilities and provides another level of managed services, he adds.
New Genetec subscription service
Genetec, Montreal, Canada, a provider of open-architecture, unified IP security solutions is opening up additional opportunities for recurring monthly revenue with a new Security Center subscription programme that gives installers and their customers pay-as-you-go licensing for its on-premises video management system called Genetec™ Security Center.
Subscribing customers pay for it on a monthly or annual basis, as opposed to purchasing the entire system upfront.
Rather than incur upfront software costs, installers can present users with access to the Security Center on a term contract that gives them the flexibility of paying on a monthly or yearly basis, says Andrew Elvish, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management.
“It really changes things,” Elvish says. “Previously we were known as perhaps only playing in the high-end enterprise space but now this software is available at a dealer upfront cost of about $3 per camera. It also translates to a monthly operating expense, rather than a large upfront capital expenditure for the user, which makes it suitable for a whole new range of customers,” he says.
Elvish says a recent Gartner Inc. industry report noted that by 2020 more than 80 percent of software vendors will change their business model from traditional license and maintenance to subscription, regardless of whether the software resides on-premises or in the cloud.
Security Center Compact for smaller sites
As part of its new subscription model, Genetec also introduced Security Center Compact, a new entry-level edition available only through subscription. The new edition of Security Center supports up to 25 cameras and provides an easy, “no training required” option for customers with basic video management requirements, making it a good fit for smaller sites.
In addition to providing smaller-site video surveillance, Security Center Compact offers a clear path as an organisation's security needs evolve over time. Security Center Compact users can simply update their subscription and purchase a higher edition of Security Center as their system grows, avoiding the need to install and/or re-deploy new system software.
