SJUK Exclusive: How can AI help us grow?

March 14, 2022

Caroline Cooper, Content Marketing Manager, Norbain SD explains how AI and deep learning enables security solutions to work smarter.

Why are we seeing more and more products or solutions claiming to benefit from AI and video analytics, not only within the security industry but across all walks of life? Moreover, what impact does the revolutionary development of AI have for commerce and what benefits can this bring for security installers, integrators and their customers?

AI means that security solutions can go from being reactive to proactive, in real time. Moreover, they can go that bit further again by providing detailed analysis to increase effective business strategy. In short, AI and the subsequent deep machine learning that comes as a result allows businesses and individuals to optimise resources and reap the benefits that go with this.

The last two years have forced many of us to review our existing way of doing business. We must consider how we can make improvements or risk being left behind by our competitors. AI can offer huge assistance in reviewing business practices, by providing the critical management data needed to really understand what’s going on. And this in turn allows you to see how you can maximise income opportunities (or generate them) and use video analytics to drive growth from better business intelligence.

AI and video analytics in practice

Security solutions that are equipped with video analytics and AI not only enhance protection, but also enable staff to work smarter and systems to work harder.

Norbain’s Managing Director, Mark Field, explains: “In the security world, AI and video analytics will provide opportunity for experienced operators who will always be required to make key decisions and analyse results. And, what’s really exciting is that the information available within a truly AI surveillance system propels security specialists to centre stage in business strategy. This is because end users will be able to generate commercially useful data from their video surveillance systems.”

The real power of modern day AI comes from machine learning which means the system can assimilate information about how we are using it, learn from this and present information back to us based on our usage. Intelligent Video Analytics also allow the outcomes to be set up dependent on different triggers. For example, if someone enters a secure area from another secure area, this might just be bookmarked in the system and logged. However, if someone enters a secure area from a non-secure area, this will trigger both video recording to commence and an alarm to sound.

An interesting example of AI, combined with ANPR, is currently operational in the UK at petrol forecourts, helping reduce take-and-drive-away fuel theft. In addition to this real world application, here are some of the other key benefits of AI and video analytics for the security sector:

Highly accurate post-event search capabilities

Currently, most CCTV systems are ill-equipped to assist security managers in carrying out an effective examination of past events in a quick and timely manner. Organisations, however, are beginning to expect more from their surveillance systems. AI and deep learning allows certain search criteria to be specified and, in turn, allows for more effective post-event analysis to be produced with deeper reports generated.

Recognition of unusual behaviour

This means that a video surveillance system can be taught what a potential threat looks like in advance using behavioural analytics. The system can be configured beforehand with a set of criteria. Where it gets really smart is that it can then build on this information by learning as it goes along. The system learns from responses to it and further increases the accuracy with which it raises an alarm, helping to drive down the number of false alarms.

Reducing false alarms is hugely attractive to those responsible for security; the less time spent dealing with incidents that aren’t of interest, the less danger of alarm fatigue. Unproductive hours can be reduced and this will enable businesses to use their surveillance staff more efficiently at the same time as increasing a premises’ protection.

Insights for organisations

By providing a range of useful insights, AI technology can help organisations to make more cognisant decisions that truly create the opportunity to maximise the return on investment of its security arrangements.

Opportunities for integrators and installers

The capabilities of applications containing AI really allow you to ask your customer: “What problems are you facing today?” Moreover, they allow you to then develop a solution specifically tailored to those problems. As things change and threats evolve, so can the business without having to make costly hardware changes.

You can talk to them about so much more than just security because these systems cover the wider issues of health and safety, occupancy management and more. Not only does this mean you can offer real value for money on a project, at the same time, you will benefit from reduced time spent on site and a system that is configured to be remotely managed.

You will be able to save your customers’ money by reducing the number of staff needed to monitor video footage or deal with false alarms and offer a solution that doesn’t just help the business prevent crimes; there is a tangible opportunity for them to use these systems to generate commercial data.

Buzz Coates, a Security Solutions Specialist at Norbain, describes how this technology can be utilised: “If a retail outlet or centre has a properly installed CCTV system, this ensures that the security team don’t miss a thing at the same time as providing the management team with customer insights. These systems can provide age and gender data, movement of people information, heat mapping and facial recognition.

“This allows management to understand visitor demographics in detail and market to their customers more effectively. It gives them the opportunity to resolve bottlenecks, to product place more effectively, to maximise usage of space and to sell space based on potential revenue. Management can even sell on the demographic visitor data to tenants for their own marketing purposes.

“Back in the security control centre, the security manager will be able to make real inroads into crime reduction, both by customers and employees. Installation of the latest cameras will be able to cover more with fewer units. They will provide 360-degree views and avoid previous blind spots, acting as a deterrent and allowing far better footage to be viewed retrospectively in the event of an incident. Suddenly, the security system becomes the provider of crucial data driving business success!”

With many security systems still viewed as a grudge purchase, the introduction of AI and deep learning allows integrators and installers to demonstrate how security solutions can be a fundamental component of an organisation’s strategic decision planning process.

And, a trusted, reliable security partner will be key in helping organisations establish the right balance between technology and humans. The fundamental way this is achieved, by utilising AI intelligence and video analytics, is to provide accurate and advanced post-event search capabilities; this reduces the stress and workload created by false alarms and allows for detailed analysis creation which can drive critical business insights.

Box Out

Title: Experience and knowledge

Norbain SD partners with some of the market leaders in AI and video analytics innovations for the security industry who can provide cutting edge solutions for you and your customers.

Our experienced and knowledgeable security team can offer advice and support on what solutions are available to suit most business needs. We also understand that every business is unique and some solutions can’t be delivered in a box – that’s why we have Solutions Specialists to provide you with ongoing support as your key technology partner, help define project roadmaps and work with you to optimise technology investments.

Caroline Cooper, Content Marketing Manager, Norbain SD

To get in touch and find out more information, visit: www.norbain.com

This article was originally published in the March edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.

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