eBusiness Weekly
Dr Keen Mhlanga
The world we live in today is now digitalised due to technology to the extent that every aspect of life is being constantly occupied and controlled by technology advancements.
Apart from the economic and social aspect of life the business environment itself is no exception of one of the areas to have been highly affected by technology via the use of cameras to supervise and control the work environment.
As ever new solutions based on information and communication technologies (ICT) enter the business settings, new types of solutions are evolving and, thereby, enable addressing problems in a more effective and efficient manner. By the growing use of cameras in company premises, the adoption of industrial image processing as an essential part of operative monitoring systems is ongoing.
Cameras and camera-based monitoring of processes promise an additional pool of information about ongoing processes and their respective statuses. Camera- and sensor-based monitoring and analysis systems are an innovative way to monitor and analyse processes and systems in business operations. As a result, numerous companies, organizations and industries around the globe have resorted to the use and adoption of business cameras in distinct areas of their workplace.
Pursuing the idea of making use of cameras and sensors in the commercial domain has led to the design and development of a camera- and sensor-based system for monitoring and analysis purposes. Simple network/IP cameras for security surveillance purposes have been installed in different arenas of workplace.
Using video cameras to enhance building security is nothing new. Most people are familiar with commercial CCTV cameras, or closed-circuit television systems, and many security professionals have experience with on-site business surveillance systems. However, the security industry is evolving, and there are now more options than ever for business security camera systems. While commercial video surveillance can help improve security, there are some important considerations that will maximize the visibility and functionality of the system over time.
The major reasons for adopting a business camera by business individuals is to ensure security and monitoring effects in the environment they operate in. However, these business cameras exist in different setups, sizes and type. Normally when business individuals look for a business camera, they weigh their options because each type of business camera has unique advantages and disadvantages, and they will meet different needs. The three common types of business cameras are classified into one of three categories of cameras namely analogue, analogue-HD, and IP.
The first type of a business camera is the analogue. Analogue cameras are what most people probably imagine by default when they think of security cameras because they are common in movies whereby security guards sit in front of a bunch of little television screens, which are likely the result of analogue cameras. Analogue cameras are traditionally used in business CCTV systems.
These types of business surveillance systems rely on coax cables for video and data transmission. Analogue cameras work by transmitting the image they’re recording back to a recording device like a DVR. They must be directly connected to the recording device via cables in order to work. If a company has a surveillance system in the workplace it is usually an analogue camera.
They’re the original technology, so they’re very common and well understood hence companies have no problem finding installers who know how to work with analogue cameras, and they’re relatively inexpensive to install or upgrade. Analogue cameras are highly used in pre-existing systems which makes them desirable to numerous business organisations.
The main downside to analogue cameras is that they don’t produce a very high-quality image because they have to be hardwired to the recording device, they also have to be within a certain distance of the device in order for the image to transmit effectively. If a company has got a large area to cover, it will need to add boosters to amplify the signal and prevent the image quality from becoming degraded.
Analogue cameras can also present a challenge if an organisation wants to be able to monitor their security cameras remotely. Since they’re hardwired to the recording device, it’s much more difficult to access the image stream if one is not physically on the company premises.
However, overall, analogue cameras remain a solid, tried-and-true option for commercial security. Particularly if companies already got analogue cameras installed, the low cost and familiarity of installation make them a viable option for their business security system.
The second form of business cameras is the analogue HD which stands for analogue high definition. High definition analogue cameras are an improved version that comes close to the picture quality of more expensive IP cameras. They have the best picture quality available for use with associated DVRs. These cameras are ideal for those organisations who need commercial-grade image quality but don’t want the higher cost of an IP-based camera system.
As the name implies, these cameras are designed to capture footage in high definition of about (1080P), meaning you can see even minute details in the recordings. Analogue HD pose as an improvement of analogue cameras because they offer and present a better image quality, compatibility with newer model recorders, colour and night vision options availability.
The last category of a business camera is the IP which stands for Internet Protocol, which sums up how these cameras work. IP cameras are a definite step up from analogue in terms of image quality. IP cameras rely on an Ethernet cable to connect the camera to the local network and transmit data. Another perk of IP camera is that they can be monitored remotely far more easily because they connect to the local network, it’s simple to share the images and access them even when one is off-site from company and business premises.
The main difference between an analogue and IP camera is that IP or network video security cameras transmit images over the Internet, and many don’t require an additional power source or cable. This makes IP camera systems easier to install than analogue camera systems. In addition, organisations get higher quality video with IP security camera systems for business. Some IP camera providers support up to 4k video quality, with greater zoom capabilities.
However, IP camera systems are often more expensive than analogue security camera systems. Most IP cameras for business surveillance systems support PoE capabilities, which can eliminate some of the cost for wiring. The biggest challenges with IP cameras relate to transmitting the data and storage capacity. Because the image quality is much higher than analogue cameras, IP cameras need substantial bandwidth to successfully transmit the data they’re capturing. IP cameras also require a plan for storing the images they capture.
High-quality images take up a lot of storage space, so a company either needs plenty of hard drive space. IP cameras are quickly becoming comparable to analogue cameras in price, but the image quality remains much higher and with built-in encryption and data compression, plus network and cybersecurity measures, IP video surveillance systems for businesses offer greater reliability and security compared to analogue and CCTV systems.
According to IHS Markit research conducted revealed that use and adoption of business cameras in America is almost on par with China. China, with 349 million security cameras in 2019, had one camera for every 4.1 people, IHS Markit found in a recent report. By comparison, the U.S. had 70 million surveillance cameras installed, which works out to 4.6 people per installed camera.
During the past few years, coverage of the surveillance market has focused heavily on China’s massive deployments of cameras and artificial intelligence technology. Cameras in China are heavily focused on public spaces and are bankrolled by the government with a goal of “providing widespread video surveillance coverage within public areas while in the US, surveillance cameras were most common among private-sector retail and commercial establishments, such as in hotels, restaurants and office complexes”.
Rounding out the top five countries with the highest density of business surveillance cameras are Taiwan (5,5 people per camera), the United Kingdom (6,5) and Singapore (7,1). There will be 1 billion cameras installed globally by 2025, IHS Markit predicts. The growth is being driven by technological advances, price competition among camera makers and more government funding due to a focus on public and business safety.
When it comes to the overall safety and security of a business, video surveillance and security cameras are a must. Business cameras, therefore, stand to provide high benefits to business operators security cameras positioned throughout a business help to prevent crimes and break-ins as well help deter theft.
According to Cox Business 64 percent of all small businesses fall victim to employee theft, and nationally, small businesses lose $25 000 to $33 000 every minute to shoplifters.
In Zimbabwe particularly where unemployment is very high crime rate also tends to increase and businesses are at risk of getting robbed or attacked, but with effective business cameras prevent robbery attacks as well as monitoring of notorious customers and employees.
A good example would be of supermarkets in Zimbabwe as OK and TM well known for their strict surveillance camera systems. According to the US Small Business Administration, a single incident of vandalism costs on average $3 370, but conspicuously placed business cameras have been proven to reduce threats of violence and vandalism at businesses dramatically in the US in 2021.
It is little surprise most business owners view security cameras as essential. They help deter crimes, can alert you of a crime in progress, and, when one occurs, record footage that may help you catch those responsible.
However, besides that, they help keep your employees productive and contribute to a safe, comfortable working environment. Business security cameras can not only save you money, but through their ability to help you put your customers at ease and improve how a company runs its business.
In a nutshell with the rise of fraud and crime rate globally businesses need to opt business cameras as monitoring, surveillance and security agents for a better working environment.
Dr Keen Mhlanga is a founder and chairman of FinKing Financial Advisory. He can be contacted on [email protected]; +263719516766.
