Around this time last year, we were forecasting the top surveillance trends to emerge in 2022. Looking back over the past year, it’s fascinating to see how many of our predictions were accurate: AI, edge recording, the cloud, advanced analytics. These technologies all made significant breakthroughs across the industry, and they will continue to have an impact throughout 2023.
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology and when combined with intelligent analytics, security professionals are better equipped to design and build the safest and most efficient surveillance environments.
“Smart” Cameras Are Here to Stay
AI-powered security “smart” cameras are usually defined as any specialized network IP cameras that perform advanced analytical functions such as vehicle detection, person detection, face detection, traffic counting, people counting, and license plate recognition (LPR).
Our industry will continue to see rapidly growing deployments of “smart” cameras and devices that combine AI and deep learning algorithms to conduct advanced targeted searches, enable effective forensic searches, enhance operational efficiency, and minimize storage and bandwidth.
Industry research supports this trend. According to the “AI Surveillance Camera Market Research Report, the Global AI Surveillance Camera Market Size was estimated at USD 4702.40 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 16750.00 million by 2028, an annual growth rate of 19.90%.
Growing Demand for All-In-One Solutions
On-board recording combined with a WAVE server makes sense for many users who prefer a serverless solution. We will see continued demand for new applications of AI and Deep Learning technology and A/V analytics to deliver actionable business insights. There’s also a clear direction toward all-in-one devices that combine several capabilities and solutions to allow more intuitive user control.
Flexible Cloud Storage
Speaking of the cloud, system design requirements often call for flexible cloud storage solutions that allows users to centralize all security cameras, regardless of location. While there is still some uncertainty and concerns over cloud security and access, we’re seeing less of that each year as more end users become familiar with “working” in the cloud. The trend of cloud adoption will absolutely continue, especially as bandwidth increases and costs come down.
The pandemic removed many roadblocks to cloud adoption and accelerated its spread. Companies need new solutions fast and they simply need them to work. That's one of the biggest benefits to the cloud: you can have a cloud-based video system up and running quickly. As more dealers and integrators become familiar and fluent with cloud video platforms, they’ll recommend and offer it to more of their customers, which will greatly help in keeping adoption rates on the rise.
The scope of a cloud deployment can vary from customer to customer, based on their market, requirements, the focus of their operations and budgets, among many other factors. For some, fully cloud environments work best, for others, on-prem is the way to go. Still, for others, a hybrid approach makes sense.
For example, in markets such as cannabis or banking, customers are required to keep both on-site and off-site back-up storage. A hybrid environment allows for full on-site video recording and a full cloud user interface with the necessary features and functionality without tying up network bandwidth. If you don't need to regularly send data to the cloud, then hybrid offers the best of both worlds, since you can mix and match. The cloud is flexible and elastic and scales to your needs and resources.
Conclusion
When it comes to forecasting the future, even in the short term, it’s always an educated guess at best, and planning usually ends up being part science, and part art. We can say with certainty that, on a macro level, the trends we have discussed here – AI, cloud, connected smart devices – will all play a role in shaping our industry’s landscape. However, on a micro level, it’s always difficult to predict the specific applications of these technologies that will be required. That will depend on user needs, changing market dynamics, the economy, even world events.
The best way to keep a security infrastructure prepared for the coming year and the longer term is to ensure you deploy solutions and products that are flexible, compatible with other devices, easy to configure and easy to install. Whichever type of technology you deploy, the most important criterion is scalability, choosing solutions that will grow with you and your business.
Ramy Ayad
Director of Product Management
Hanwha Techwin America
