The Art of Upselling Integrated Security Solutions
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Minimizing false alarms is a prime example of efficiencies to be gained from integrating systems such as video surveillance and intrusion. For example, central station operatorscan remotely identify the cause of an alarm event and more accurately base their decision to dispatch authorities or not.
Why Unification Builds a Stronger Case
While integrations can definitely add value, it is important to recognize they do have their limitations. Straightforward integration limits cross-system functionality to a few very basic capabilities, such as receiving access control alarms in your video system or linking access control events to video.
It is a much more high-level merge of two disparate systems that still might require operators to work from different interfaces to undertake certain tasks due to limitations. Integration could also cause incompatibilities during version upgrades where enhancements might not be supported by the other system, causing unwanted system failures.
In contrast, a unified platform goes much deeper. It is specifically engineered to manage video and access control in one platform offered from a single vendor; therefore, providing both a unified interface and a server infrastructure built to support multiple security capabilities. Unification also allows operators to streamline their workflows and tasks, whereby a single platform supports the full complement of video and access control management capabilities such as monitoring, reporting, alarm management, configuration, authentication, permissions and more.
All of this leads to less training, more efficient day-to-day operations, and more powerful investigations. When possible, considering unification over integration is always an easier, more cost-effective method to merging multiple systems.
System Integrations Lead to Even Greater Efficiencies
The opportunities for piecing together systems are endless. Although it is widely known that the most common integration is between video surveillance and access control, other systems that are frequently integrated with access control or video include intrusion detection, intercom, and video analytics. Beyond that, it becomes more application specific whereby system integration addresses the needs of individual customers. Examples would be the retailer looking to simplify investigations by merging video surveillance with its point of sale (POS) system, or the health-care organization that wants to keep a closer watch on medicine cabinets by linking its access control with an asset tracking system. Airports and ports are often good candidates for integrating video surveillance with perimeter intrusion detection systems, and many more vertical applications benefit from unique integrations.
Yet integrators that take the time to explore beyond the obvious can also extend greater efficiency to many other facets of a business. While the most obvious benefit of systems integration might be from a system management perspective, systems integration can also encourage other efficiencies across the organization.
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