What Happened?
Video security has long been regarded primarily as a cost center: cameras record footage, and in the event of an incident, someone spends hours reviewing the material. With the deployment of smart analytics, this picture is changing fundamentally. Modern systems independently detect anomalies, report incidents in real time, and additionally provide data that can also be used for operational processes. In Protector Magazine, three industry experts share their views on this development: Josua Braun, Chief Revenue Officer at Dallmeier, Dr. Falk Herrmann, Managing Director of Funkwerk Security Solutions GmbH and board member of Funkwerk AG, and Dana Keren, VP Products Analytics at Milestone Systems. At the center of their assessments is the question of when the use of AI-supported video analytics truly pays off economically and how this benefit can be measured.
The Details
Josua Braun of Dallmeier describes a development from a "mandatory investment" to a "business enabler." A key advantage lies in relieving the burden on security personnel, as relevant events can be automatically detected, classified, and flagged for evaluation. He sees particularly great potential when video data is used to optimize operational processes – for example, through the analysis of pedestrian flows, utilization rates, waiting and dwell times, or the identification of bottlenecks and inefficient workflows. According to Braun, walking routes, space utilization, and compliance with defined process steps can also be evaluated based on data, providing information for staff planning and operational optimization.
Dr. Falk Herrmann of Funkwerk emphasizes that smart analytics turns video data into relevant information: events are automatically detected and prioritized, which reduces false alarms and the effort required for manual review, relieves staff, and speeds up response times. In his assessment, however, ROI goes beyond mere efficiency gains. When critical situations are detected earlier, damage and operational disruptions can be limited and availability increased – an aspect that, according to Herrmann, contributes particularly to resilience in industry and critical infrastructure. He sees the greatest leverage in integration: when video analytics and other security systems are linked, events can be evaluated in context and security processes can be improved in a targeted manner. The economic value, he says, therefore lies less in the individual analytics function than in the improved overall process. What matters most, he notes, is the specific use case, integration into operational workflows, and a reliably operated, cybersecure system architecture.
Dana Keren of Milestone Systems classifies the development similarly: in the past, the focus was on documenting incidents or preventing damage. Today, smart technologies create additional value because video systems can actively support operational processes. Intelligent analytics automatically detect relevant events, reduce the effort required for manual review, and cut down on false alarms. At the same time, visitor and traffic flows, utilization rates, or bottlenecks can be analyzed and processes managed more effectively. In Keren's assessment, ROI is no longer measured purely in terms of security gains but is determined by the specific use case: the economic value becomes measurable when technology helps solve a problem, use resources more efficiently, or place decisions on a better data foundation.
Context
The assessments of the three experts reveal a common trend: video security is increasingly evolving from a purely compliance- and protection-oriented measure into an economically effective tool for businesses. For operators of security infrastructure, this signals a paradigm shift in how investments are evaluated. While in the past the main focus was on whether a system would function reliably in the event of damage, the focus now shifts to what additional operational benefit a system delivers in everyday use. This applies both to smaller businesses looking to analyze customer flows in retail, for example, and to large industrial companies and critical infrastructure operators, where early detection of critical situations has a direct impact on resilience and operational safety.
Practical Tips
- Before investing in smart analytics, the specific use case should be clearly defined – according to Dana Keren, this use case is precisely what determines a measurable ROI.
- Companies should examine where video analytics can reduce effort, improve processes, or provide additional economically usable information, as Josua Braun recommends.
- The integration of video analytics with other security systems should be factored in, since according to Dr. Falk Herrmann, this is where the greatest economic leverage lies.
- A reliably operated, cybersecure system architecture is, according to Herrmann, a fundamental prerequisite for analytics to actually generate ROI.
- The integration of analytics functions into existing operational workflows should be planned from the outset, rather than introducing the technology in isolation.
Outlook
The statements from the three experts suggest that the way companies evaluate video security solutions will continue to shift – away from a purely security-focused investment and toward a component of operational business management. What will be decisive is how well video analytics can be integrated into existing processes, IT infrastructures, and other security systems. For companies investing in such technologies, the question of the specific use case and a secure system architecture is likely to remain central going forward, in order to actually realize the economic benefits of smart analytics.
