How your surveillance system helps your business — AI aside

Artificial intelligence dominates conversations about the future of security. At Eagle Eye Networks, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, providing businesses with a complete AI-driven safety and security system. 

But it’s worth remembering that the most fundamental role of video surveillance — providing a pair of eyes where you can’t be — is of huge value even when you don’t consider AI.

The human element: Remote monitoring and physical security

The most direct and classic use of a surveillance camera is to provide a live feed to a human observer. For a manager overseeing multiple stores, this simple capability is a force multiplier. They can’t be in five places at once, but with a cloud-based video management system, they can instantly check in on any location from their laptop or smartphone. 

And with a modern interface, they can also compare locations side-by-side.

EXAMPLE: REGIONAL MANAGER

Imagine a regional manager who wants to check on the morning rush at a new branch. This isn’t a task for an algorithm — it’s an opportunity for direct, human-led decisions, based on real observations. 

EXAMPLE: SECURITY GUARD

Centralized observation significantly reduces the need for expensive, round-the-clock physical patrols and provides a single, comprehensive view of your entire business premises.

A security guard can:

• Monitor a dozen or more screens in a central command center.
• Remotely verify credentials via camera from multiple entry points to allow access.
• Reduce foot-patrol needs by observing loading docks and other high-value areas simultaneously. 
• Warn away trespassers or vandals with audible messages from speakers paired with cameras.

And it doesn’t work just for companies big enough to have a dedicated team of security observers, either. With a cloud-connected surveillance system like Eagle Eye Cloud VMS, remote video monitoring can be turned on and then scaled up (or down) without needing so much as a site visit.   

Forensic investigations: The “why” behind the alarm

Motion sensors, alarm panels, and other non-video security tools are great at telling you that something happened. A door was opened. A window was broken. But they can’t tell you why. This is where video surveillance shines in its most classic role: forensic investigation.

EXAMPLE: EVENT INVESTIGATOR

When an alarm is triggered, the first question is always, “What caused it?” A quick check of the video footage from the time of the event can provide the answer. Was it a false alarm caused by a stray cat or a tree branch? Or was it a genuine break-in? 

A key consideration, though: If footage is stored on-site, whether in a DVR or even in a legacy tape-based system, it’s subject to the same kind of risks that your cameras are there to record. Flooding, fire, or even a determined thief may destroy all that video data. It’s another reason to turn to securely backed-up cloud storage.

And don’t take the importance of forensics’ “what happened?” role to mean that AI isn’t useful. Stepping up to a system with an automated search function can greatly speed up any forensic investigations that you do need.

Business operations: A better view of your business

While security is the most common reason for installing cameras, many businesses are using them for broader operational improvements too. Some of these applications don’t require AI to count people or analyze behavior; they simply use video as a visual record of business processes, or to get an instant spot check on people, merchandise, or facilities.

 Even if you’re also using an AI system to generate heat maps or help count customers, there’s still value in taking a look at your actual footage with fresh eyes.

• Customer traffic and merchandising: A retail manager can review footage to understand customer foot traffic patterns. By observing which aisles are most popular or where customers spend the most time, they can make informed decisions about product placement and store layout. 
• Employee training and productivity: Cameras can be used as a training tool. Managers can review video of an employee performing a task to provide targeted feedback on efficiency, safety, or customer service. This is particularly useful in industries with complex procedures, like logistics, warehousing, or food service. It helps identify workflow bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement. Unlike AI, a manager can see real-world actions with empathy. 
• Dispute resolution: Accidents happen, and disputes arise. Whether it’s a customer slip-and-fall incident, an employee injury, or a disagreement about a transaction, security camera footage provides an unbiased account of events. This video evidence can protect the business from fraudulent claims, resolve internal conflicts, and ensure a fair and just outcome for all parties involved.

A single pane of glass: integrating with existing systems

A core aspect of Cloud VMS is its ability to integrate with other systems. This doesn’t rely on AI, but rather on a flexible, open platform. For instance, you can link camera footage to data from a Point of Sale (POS) system.

This integration allows a manager to search for video based on a specific transaction ID, so a manager or security officer can instantly pull up the video of that interaction. This simple link between transaction data and video is a classic example of how integration amplifies the power of your different business systems.

And if your video management system allows it, you can also use your surveillance system as a central hub for acting on sensors or alarms, or (with speakers in place) as an always-ready public address system. 

The ongoing value of the “simple” camera

The simple act of keeping an eye on your business, a record of what happened, and a tool for better management is as vital today as it was 20 years ago. AI is a powerful accelerator — but in the world of video surveillance, it’s built on the foundation of a reliable camera system. Today’s baseline cameras, though, are several notches above what they were a few decades ago, and typically offer high-resolution digital output. And even high-quality analog cameras often get new life through digital conversion. 

We build our advanced AI tools on just that kind of base, which means whether you’re using our AI to detect a person loitering in a restricted area or simply checking a live feed from your phone, you’re tapping into the core value of video surveillance.