What Does Your Demo Setup Look Like?

I've seen some demo setups that cost tens of thousands of dollars that simply fail to accomplish anything but make the demo-ers look incompetent.

The secret? Keep it very simple, don't emphasize 'bells 'n whistles', but DO demo the actual equipment being proposed. Who cares about discussing you exotic compression methods if the customer cannot first see example video from the camera you're proposing? Sometimes a laptop with the RIGHT demo VMS, a crossover cable, and the RIGHT camera is all that is needed.

On the other hand, I'm a firm believer in 'proof of concept' demos, where an amount of integration is done beforehand to show your proposal 'can be done.' Costly and potentially a waste of time, but most of the time the extra confidence in your abilities go a long way with the customer.

Take your tablet or smart phone to the customer's site and show them your cameras and access controlled door back in your office. Just about every VMS has a web client or smart phone app. Or put them on your webiste.

Get laptop and a portable hotspot. Bring with you to customer, log into Hybrid. Show them a your highest quality analog camera and an HD-IP camera in similar fields of view, blow up to full screen, and let them see the difference. IP camera system sold!

I like the cell phone idea as well but when trying to compare analog and IP, its hard to do on a mini screen as they look kind of similar. You need a bigger screen to show the true difference.

Going back into time with this post!

I have an opportunity to rebuild our demo system and was interested to see what others have done and to get some ideas.  

Here is what I am thinking so far:

Fisheye vs Multi-imager

PTZ vs super high res

Super high res vs HD res 

Low Light

Wide FOV vs narrow FOV

Intercom integration

analytic/deep learning 

Multiple VMS solutions

ALPR

IR coverage

Everywhere one camera is going to be installed install 2 cameras for A/B testing. 

We demo multiple ways. For a quick show we pull up a mobile app to see cameras on our building. For a full on demo we will bring in a laptop, tripod and cameras that way the customer can see what the video will look like at their site. We also have a Lenel can with a handle to demonstrate card access and what integration with cameras does as well. When needed we even bring in the big boys, aka the manufacturers, to demo their equipment as well. It's a lot easier this way as I don't have to lug a bunch of stuff around.

We have typical areas covered on our building. Front, back and interior. Internally we have a couple of spots where we can easily change out cameras for demoing different cameras. We are running Axis and Bosch cameras. These go into either Exacq, Milestone or a Bosch recorder.

Here is our access control setup. Even have a 1/3 size door we can even take out to demo. Not as beneficial these days but has proved very effective when dealing with large groups that don't understand access control though.

I am interested in hearing the integrators thoughts, opinions, and experiences in using manufacturer's demo/show/experience rooms. How often do you bring end-users or even your staff to these locations for product exposure, training's, or just to hold meetings? I know some distributors around the world have large show rooms with products staged and functional, and more brands are creating these locations as well but they will be brand specific of course.

Those of you that have used these spaces, what was the outcome? 

As a field sales manager, my demo setup adapts to the end user's needs (this is certainly different for a fixed office demo setup).

I have an assortment of cameras with tripod and battery PoE and laptop which I use to shoot sample footage of their regions of interest and to solve their pain points. My demos are rarely the same and demo setup is always focused on solving problems with their application and needs at hand. Store the sample video and show it in the actual demo. 

Also, always focused on value engineering of camera placement and camera selection with total cost of deployment in mind. (ie, why pole and wireless/fiber if I can do it from the building)?

In most cases, if you show evidence of the value of your solution, you win. 

I can't remember the last time I did a PPT presentation. 

While we offer a full range of remotely accessible cameras in our main office showroom, bringing the camera to the customer and/or actual site where it will be deployed is always preferable.

After mixed results over the years with wobbly tripods, uneven terrains and eternal quest for nearby power outlets and/or network connections, we've invested in a solar/battery/LTE equipped trailer allowing us to easily and rapidly setup a field demo in virtually any location or environment.

On occasions where we have presentations in front of groups or customer boardrooms, the trailer can easily parked outside and dialed-in remotely via LTE offering customers a live view of their own parking and nearby roads