Alert Data discusses how Mercedes-Benz South West transformed its security and day-to-day operations by replacing legacy CCTV with SEiNG’s Cloud platform.
For multi-site operations, legacy CCTV systems can be a hidden bottleneck.
Mercedes-Benz South West found its IT and security teams weighed down by slow investigations, inconsistent footage and systems that simply couldn’t keep up across four dealerships.
The solution came in the form of Cloud CCTV.
By centralising control, streamlining operations and freeing IT and security staff from routine management, the dealerships achieved a step-change in both operational efficiency and oversight.
SEiNG’s platform offers a real-world example of how changes in CCTV technology can transform multi-site security.
Before the upgrade, each Mercedes-Benz South West dealership relied on analogue PTZ cameras and DVRs.
These legacy systems delivered inconsistent footage, particularly at night and required staff to review recordings manually at each site.
Investigations were slow and inefficient, with IT teams tied up managing updates, troubleshooting cameras and handling password resets across all four locations.
William Ross, Group IT Manager, Alert Data recalled: “We were constantly battling poor night-time footage and grainy images.
“For a car dealership, that’s a real problem.
“Our stock is high value and we need to be able to investigate incidents quickly, whether a car is accidentally damaged on the forecourt or someone tries to gain unauthorised access.”
Access control was another weak point.
Shared passwords and a lack of role definitions made it difficult to manage who could view or control footage.
This not only increased the risk of unauthorised access but also consumed IT resources unnecessarily.
These limitations posed business-critical risks, from protecting high-value vehicles to maintaining operational compliance.
That’s why Mercedes-Benz South West chose SEiNG, a fully managed VSaaS platform compatible with any new or existing security camera.
The introduction of SEiNG brought a step-change in how Mercedes-Benz South West manages its four dealerships.
Instead of wrestling with a patchwork of cameras and DVRs, all sites – Exeter, Plymouth, Truro and Taunton – are now unified on a single platform.
Staff can instantly view live and recorded footage from any location, coordinate investigations across multiple sites and ensure consistent operational standards without having to travel between dealerships.
Because SEiNG works with any ONVIF- or RTSP-compliant camera, the dealerships had the freedom to choose hardware that genuinely met their needs.
New wide-view infra-red cameras improve night-time visibility and allow full use of the platform’s advanced features, while avoiding vendor lock-in or limitations of proprietary systems.
With centralised dashboards and integration with a third-party monitoring service, management can oversee all activity in real time, respond swiftly to incidents and maintain a consistent level of security and operational efficiency across every location.
Before SEiNG, Ross’ IT team spent hours installing updates, patching firmware, troubleshooting cameras and managing access at each site.
While most cloud platforms handle automatic updates, SEiNG goes further with a fully managed service.
This includes user training, system setup and ongoing proactive health monitoring across the sites, ensuring reliability and simplicity for the team from day one.
Reflecting on the impact, Ross explained: “This took a huge load off our IT team.
“We didn’t have to worry about configuring accounts or learning a new system from scratch as it was all ready to go from day one.”
By reducing these operational demands, SEiNG has freed up IT staff to concentrate on supporting the business, rather than being tied to the legacy CCTV systems.
Legacy CCTV systems leave gaps that put both data and operations at risk.
Shared passwords, minimal access controls and unpatched servers mean footage could be vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Investigations are harder and IT teams carry the stress of knowing a single breach could compromise high-value assets.
With SEiNG, those risks are minimised.
Access is tightly controlled with role-based permissions, Single Sign On and multi-factor authentication.
All footage is encrypted and stored in a compliant UK-based data centre, safe from tampering, theft or on-site damage.
For Ross and his team, this translates into real peace of mind: The system is no longer a potential back door for hackers and sensitive operational data is reliably protected.
CCTV footage holds a wealth of data: It sees everyone going in and out of the premises, records every movement, even captures patterns that could reveal how staff and customers interact with the site.
Legacy CCTV systems passively record, doing nothing with this information.
Cloud uses it to make your business smarter.
With SEiNG, Mercedes-Benz South West is getting far more value from every second of footage.
AI-driven tools – from analytics and instant alerts to smart filters – have already saved hours that were previously spent manually reviewing recordings.
When incidents do occur, SEiNG’s case management tools allow staff to efficiently track investigations.
Using the AI-backed filters, security footage can be quickly located and saved as a Case.
Relevant personnel can be assigned to the Case, along with any tags, labels or notes.
This makes it easier to stay on top of investigations and provides a clear audit trail.
This was useful for Ross’ team when, soon after installing SEiNG, a car reversed into a post at one of the sites at night.
The footage was quickly located using the AI-backed filters and then securely shared with the team and tracked through cases.
Another one of the platform’s standout features is the video wall, which provides a secure, view-only link to live footage from selected cameras that can be shared or embedded as needed.
Ross’ team uses it to stream forecourt activity directly into the sales office, giving staff immediate visibility of what’s happening on the ground.
Ross noted: “With the video wall, our Sales team can see what’s happening on the forecourts without leaving their desks.
“It ensures no opportunities are missed, customers are supported immediately and staff can focus on their work safely.”
Mercedes-Benz South West has transformed how it manages its four dealerships with Cloud CCTV.
Staff no longer wrestle with legacy systems; instead, they can focus on running the business and leave the day-to-day CCTV management to the SEiNG team.
By centralising monitoring, cutting IT workload and providing real-time insights, the platform lets teams respond faster, work smarter and focus on the business.
More than just security, it’s a tool that safeguards assets, streamlines operations and drives real impact across all sites.
As Ross concluded: “SEiNG has transformed the way we manage security. Investigations are faster, monitoring is easier and our teams can focus on what really matters – supporting our customers.”
This article was originally published in the January edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
