New IPVM Research Vs Old IPVM Testing - Here's What's Much Better

JH
John Honovich
•Jan 12, 2023
IPVM

The most common question we get from integrators is how our new IPVM Research Service compares to what we previously did with IPVM testing. We made this video below that shows how many more shootouts we now do (beyond individual product tests) and how this helps to make much better decisions:

I am really proud of the work the Research team is doing, we are testing so much more, broader, deeper, and competitively.

Yesterday, we released VSaaS Shootout 2023 - Ava, Eagle Eye, Genetec, Meraki, Rhombus, Verkada, YourSix, and tomorrow we are releasing now we have released the Dual Imager Camera Shootout. Plus last week, we released Camera Analytics Shootout 2023 - 24 Manufacturers, 35 Analytics.

Last month, we released:

In November, we released

Also, last month we did our first comparison guide on weapons detectors - Weapons Detection 24 Competitors Comparison Guide.

Plus, see the 67 Research Report Topics Planned For 2023.

9 months ago, when we made this transition, it was hard to show what is or would be different. Now, with the work we've already released, it's becoming much clearer what we are doing. And I am excited that we have planned even far more shootouts with an aim to provide comprehensive research for any decision in physical security technology.

Questions or feedback, please let me know.

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MM
Michael Miller
•Jan 12, 2023

I think the new tests are going well. The only downside I have seen is there is less conversions in the "research" posts. Not sure how that can be addressed.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
•Jan 12, 2023
In reply to Michael Miller

I'm not sure what you mean. Is "conversions" a typo for "conversation"?

MM
Michael Miller
•Jan 12, 2023
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2

Yes sorry about the typo.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
•Jan 13, 2023
In reply to Michael Miller

It should be immediately obvious why that is the case. I'd gladly participate, but I'm not paying thousands of dollars for Re$earch and neither are the majority of the membership.

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JH
John Honovich
•Jan 13, 2023
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4

I'm not paying thousands of dollars

Assuming you are a small integrator, the price is $480 per year including 10 Research reports or $1,080 for 30 Research reports.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
•Jan 16, 2023
In reply to John Honovich

That's still too high for me. I use the articles largely for my own edification rather than to make business decisions and largely in part because this is one of the narrow subjects upon which my autistic mind has decided to perserverate. As camera installs are secondary to my business, it currently isn't worth the expenditure.

JH
John Honovich
•Jan 16, 2023
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4

it currently isn't worth the expenditure.

That's totally fair. There were still many people who did not pay $199 for everything, including product tests, before we started Research. Like any product, there is a variance in what people are willing to pay based on the relative value that the product has for their individual circumstances.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
•Jan 12, 2023

Several thoughts here, not in any level of importance.

If you look at the “repositional multi-imager” research you can see there are 4 comments on what should be an interesting piece to the general membership. 1 from John, 1 from Ethan and 2 from Michael.

I wonder how many of the 2020 Top Posters are Research Members? Are they posting more or less on Info+ articles? Are they posting on Research?

Maybe people who post want the larger audience. Whisper to a grand audience versus yell to a small one?

One suggestion would be to make the Research articles into Info+ at 12 months. This would still add value for those needing the competitive info and yet open for a larger discussion to gauge overall interest at a later date.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
•Jan 12, 2023
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1

There is also something to be said about environment. Start a thread about... abnormal uses of chewing gum, non-research. Lots of people can see the thread, lots of people have experience with chewing gum, easy to get a lot of (pointless) conversation. Now make it more technical, and you'll loose some of the people who only post jokes. But as long as it's a discussion that most installers can understand, you could get some conversation going.

Make it extremely technical and make it a research tier, and suddenly the audience becomes CEOs and CTOs who are very purpose-driven. You can't just make a joke about Ethan's beard and expect all the Research subscribers to enjoy it, because they paid $10,000 for this and it better be good. Research comments tend to be from people who actually know what they're talking about.

In summary:

More technical => fewer comments

More expensive => fewer comments

If you start an Info+ discussion about what was the biggest sneeze you caught on a camera, you'd probably get tons of comments, but at the same time, the discussion would be largely meaningless.

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U
Undisclosed #3
•Jan 12, 2023
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1

To your point about making Research articles into Info+ at 12 months, that seems reasonable. As fast as technology moves these days, the data derived from shootouts and such are made obsolete in less time.

Unfortunately, IPVM has opted instead to make previously available Info+ content into Research.

All of this would be a non-issue, if IPVM offered single subscriptions to the full Research package, as opposed to basing rates on company size. For example, I would be the only person benefiting from Research in my organization of over 500 people.

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JH
John Honovich
•Jan 12, 2023
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed #3

I would be the only person benefiting from Research in my organization of over 500 people.

Generally, our position is 2 things:

  1. If security is only a small part of a larger business, we do provide lower rates, factoring in the size of the security business.
  2. Even if only one person is using IPVM in a larger company, that person is almost always using IPVM research to make larger decisions that impact far more revenue / cost.

Matt (matt@ipvm.com) is happy to talk specifically about helping you.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
•Jan 13, 2023
In reply to Undisclosed #3

All of this would be a non-issue, if IPVM offered single subscriptions to the full Research package, as opposed to basing rates on company size. For example, I would be the only person benefiting from Research in my organization of over 500 people.

It was me who initially proposed that price structure when Research came out, and I'm happy to see IPVM adopted it (though I don't know if it was based on my suggestion). Unfortunately it is still far too expensive for my needs despite being the content I signed up for in the first place.

U
Undisclosed #3
•Jan 13, 2023

If a company is primarily in the security business, then the pricing model makes sense. If a security related organization can leverage IPVM's work to increase revenue or improve their own product, they should definitely pay a premium for it.

We also know that there are some unethical people out there, that share their membership or login, just like with Netflix. That would be completely unfair to IPVM as it is for any other company where people cheat the system.

I am only speaking for people like myself, who don't gain financially from what I learn here. I will continue to benefit from the Info+ subscription and leave it at that.

JH
John Honovich
•Jan 13, 2023
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed #3

people like myself, who don't gain financially from what I learn here.

#3, does your company gain financially, or is this a hobby for you? I am sure some people enjoy reading comparative test reports of niche technologies for fun but imagine most are doing it for their employment or employer's financial interest.

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Undisclosed #3
•Jan 13, 2023
In reply to John Honovich

does your company gain financially, or is this a hobby for you?

Perhaps indirectly, but it would be difficult to quantify.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
•Jan 18, 2023

Too confusing. I read all my articles already, don't remember what they were and now can't read anymore until?? From what I recall the articles went deeper than needed to foster my opinion on such subject and found myself getting sidetracked and probably the cause of not knowing what I used my ticket on...

I can't tell what or why something is info+ or research other than when it's labeled.

IPVM gained it's popularity and rise to fame on community sourced comment content. Much of your exploits and deeper dives we're founded on subscriber comments. This new pricing change aims to collect those comments in the lower tiers and exploit them in the higher tiers at different, ungrouped unrelatable timings.

I'm all for IPVM being a profitable and worthwhile resource don't get me wrong, charge accordingly but I think this pricing model setup is bad for business. I would rather pay more for everything without the hassles. That said I don't want a plan or cost tailored to me, I want the commentary of the masses and that means affordable access for all.

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JH
John Honovich
•Jan 18, 2023
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5

Much of your exploits and deeper dives we're founded on subscriber comments. This new pricing change aims to collect those comments in the lower tiers and exploit them in the higher tiers at different, ungrouped unrelatable timings.

We have 10 employees doing Research and a 12,000 software testing facility. The reports that we are including in research are based on those team members end our testing facility, not on any outsiders comment.

By the way, we do survey based reports that collect information from integrators. We pay integrators for answering and those reports are Info+, not Research.

If you have more feedback or questions, please let me know.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
•Jan 18, 2023
In reply to John Honovich

I don't mean to diminish your team's efforts in any way they do great work and put a lot of effort into the content!

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