The proliferation of the IoT is changing the business world as we know it. One of the most exciting technologies leading this charge is the smart camera.
Smart cameras are cameras which, in addition to standard image capture capabilities, are able to extract meaningful information from captured images. Smart cameras have the ability to function with different operating systems and are able to connect to the internet with the help of WiFi or LTE. Although there are many different types of smart cameras, most come equipped with a dedicated processor that enables them to operate independently.
Smart cameras with built-in AI capabilities can bring a slew of benefits to different industries, and the global smart camera market is already gaining significant traction. Industry onlookers predict the market will exceed a $2 billion evaluation by 2023.
When it comes to smart camera adoption in the enterprise, it’s not a matter of if, but when. As such, CIOs across an array of verticals need to be prepared to bring them into their organizations in a meaningful way. The following three industries have already begun to deploy smart cameras to increase efficiency, improve the customer experience, and cut costs.
Smart Cameras in Surveillance and Security
One of the first and most prominent industries that has benefited from smart camera adoption is the surveillance and security sector. Smart cameras are a logical fit for surveillance because the industry already relies heavily on standard cameras to serve as “digital eyes” — smart cameras simply give these cameras the “digital brains” to match. The smart home security market alone, which only accounts for consumer-facing products, is expected to reach a value of $9.7 billion by 2023.
To understand how smart cameras might be able to help businesses, consider a camera that recognizes natural language queries. By independently analyzing hours of footage, smart cameras can then easily begin to offer users the ability to search for relevant footage with descriptive words, like “blue car” or “man with red shirt.” In cases where businesses rely on surveillance footage to better understand a situation, like theft in an electronics store or a customer altercation at a nightclub, this can easily save businesses from tedious hours spent manually sifting through footage.
Smart Cameras in Retail
Technology innovators in the retail space are also doing a lot of exciting things when it comes to implementing smart cameras into their day-to-day operations. In the most traditional of environments, store managers are using the data recorded from smart camera systems to optimize store layout based on customer movements. These smart systems can even be programmed to recognize high-profile clients so salespeople can offer them better service and attention.
Taking things a step further in this space are the Amazon Go stores. These stores offer customers a checkout-free experience, meaning they don’t have to deal with a self-checkout or a cashier — payment for a product is completely automatic. This is made possible with the use of new smart cameras that use facial recognition technology to identify customers who enter the store. These users are then instantly charged via their Amazon accounts upon exit based on the products they grab off the shelves.
Smart cameras can also be found in other types of retailers too, including fast food establishments. For example, some restaurants in China are using smart cameras to make targeted meal suggestions based the diner’s age and gender. This customer service feature has the potential to speed up interactions and improve customer satisfaction.
Smart Cameras in Manufacturing
Perhaps one of the most natural fits for smart cameras is the manufacturing industry. By using smart cameras as integrated optical inspection tools, manufacturers are able to improve the quality of product they produce as well as optimize resource efficiencies.
For example, some manufacturers have begun to utilize a specialized smart camera known as a vision sensor. These cameras can provide limited functionality in a single view, which allows them to analyze product details with computer accuracy. This makes them perfect for quality control in the factory environment, allowing businesses to rapidly verify products with barcodes, verify dates, check labels, and ensure overall product satisfaction before items are shipped. This technology can have a huge impact on a production line, where AI-driven quality control allows for speeds far beyond a human worker’s ability.
The Turn-key Solution
While smart cameras bring a plethora of incredible new capabilities to a variety of industries, adding them to any workplace presents a significant challenge. You need solid foundational infrastructure, thoughtful planning, and a security plan for a slew of potential threats posed by IoT devices. To properly leverage emerging smart camera technologies, many businesses might need a helping hand — that’s where Turn-key Technologies, Inc. (TTI) can help.
With nearly three decades of experience, TTI brings the requisite IT expertise to help prepare enterprise networks for all the exciting new capabilities the future has to offer. And as an Avigilon partner, we can bring the latest and greatest of high-definition surveillance systems into your enterprise. The new Avigilon system combines award-winning software with a broad range of megapixel cameras to help your business get ahead of the competition.