Avigilon Favorability Results 2017

Published Feb 27, 2017 14:32 PM

One of the fastest growing companies has turned into one of the rockiest, as cooling growth, management turnover and a roller coaster stock price shakes Avigilon.

So how do integrators feel about Avigilon? 100+ integrators told IPVM in detail, revealing the following key trends:

  • Support strong
  • Balanced product performance with one key weakness
  • Expensive objections
  • Dealer debate
  • Untrustworthy objections

Statistics ********

******** *** * ****** ******* ************:

******** *** ** *** **** ******* but *** ****** ** * ****** of *********** ********* ****, ******* *** Milestone.

*******

********'* ******* ******** ******* *** *** clear ******** **** ***********:

  • "**** ********* *******, ** ******* **** purchase ** ******."
  • "******* ** **** ****."
  • "**** ******* ** *** ********, **** responsive ******** *** ******** *******. ******** without ********* ******* ********, ** * plus ** ******** **** *********"
  • "**** ******* ** ***** *** ********. Always ********* ** *** ********."
  • "********* ***** ******* *** **** *******."
  • "**** *** *** ***** *******, *** great **** *******"
  • "**** **** ******* ** *** ********. And ** **** *** ***** ******* personnel."
  • "***** **** *******. ** *********/****** ****."
  • "******** *** **** * ***** ******* to **** ******* *** ********* *** help **** *** ********. ********* **** it ******* ** ** ****** ** use *** **** ******** *** **** there ** ** ***** *** **** to **** **/* ***** **** *******."
  • "*** ******* ** ******* *****, ********* they **** **, *** **** **** resolve ** *******."
  • "********* ******* *** **** ************ ****."
  • "******** ******* ** ****** *** *****."
  • "***** **** *******-** ****** *******. *** notch *******."
  • "******** - **/* *******"
  • "********* *** ***** *******, **** ******* and ************* *****"
  • "******* **** ******** ***** **** *** so *** ** ********** ******* *** sales, ******** ******, ***** ***** ********, Technical ******* ** ** ** *** users. ******* **** *** ********* ***** team ******* ** ** *** ***** on *******."

Product ***********

********** ******* ** ******** ****** ********* across *********, ******* *** ***, *** contrary ** ********'* ******** ****** ***** marketing, *** *** ********* *** ******** than *******.

*** *******, ********** ******** ** ********'* VMS *** ******:

  • "*** ** **** **** *** **** no *********** ****."
  • "**** **** * **** ***** ***"
  • "**** *** ********, **** ** *******, with * **** ******** ***."
  • "******** *** * * ***** ***."
  • "* ***** *** *** **** *****."
  • "*** *** ** *** **** ****** we *** ******** ** ** **** projects. ** **** **** **** ***** encoders ** ****** ******* ** **** advantage ** *** ***. *** ** our ******* **** *** *********."

*********, ******** ******** *** *******:

  • "***** *********" (**** ** *** ***********)
  • "********* *** *********."
  • "*** *** **** ********* ******** ** an ********** ***********."
  • "** ********* ** ******** ******** ** hard ** ****"
  • "* **** ********'* *********."
  • "*** **** *********"
  • "**** ***** *****-** ********* *******"
  • "***** ********* *** *********."

******** **** *** **** ******* ******** on *******, *** ******* ** ******* relative ** **** ******** *** ************ been **** ***** ***:

  • "***** ******* *** **** ********, **** very *** ******** ** *** ****."
  • "***** ******* *** *********."
  • "********* ***** ** *******."
  • "**** ******* *******."
  • "***** ***** *******."

*** ******* ** ******** ******** ****** VMS, ********* *** ******* ***** **** integrators *** ********** ******** ******** *** the ******** ** *** ******* ***** 'solution'.

Weak ****** *******

*** *** ******** ******* **** ***** integrators **** ******* ******* ******** *** access *******:

  • "********: ****** ******* ** *****, *** suitable *** **** *********."
  • "***'* ***** ***** ****** ******* *** any ****** ********."
  • "****** ******* ******* ** *** **** 201 ********. ****** *** ** **** in *** ******* ******."
  • "*** ****** ******* ** ********."

****, ***** **** **** *** ******** statements ***** ********'* ****** *******. **** does *** ******** ** ******* ********'* development ******** ** ****** ******* *** been ******* *** ********** ** *** ******* *** ***** deficiencies.

Expensive **********

*** ****** ********* *** ********'* *************, notably ** *******:

  • "*** *********"
  • "*** **** ***, **** **** ******* customer ***. **** *** *********** ******* only."
  • "** ****** ** **** ********* *** they ***'* **** (******** ** "****") to ** *** ******** ** *** market"
  • "***** **** *** *** ****** *** to *********** ** * *******."
  • "**** *******, *** *** ********* ******* - ***** **** ********* - *****'* other ********* **** ****** ******!"
  • "******** ******* *** **** *********."
  • "**** ** ***** *** **** ** the ***** ***."
  • "*** *** ** *** ** ****** great *** *** * ******** ** my *******, *** ****** ** *** expensive *** **** * *** ******* with **."
  • "* *** ** ******* ********* ******* on ******** ******* ***** ****** *** the ******* ****."
  • "********: *****-***** ***** **** ****** ** competitive ** ***** *********."
  • "******* ***** ** ** ******* **** a ****** **** *** ** *** state ** *** ******."

* *** ***** ***, ******** ******* were ***** **** ***********, *** **** with ***** ****** ***** ***, *** steep **** ** ****** ******* ****** by *** ******* *** **** *** market ************* ******* *** ********.

Proprietary ********

**** *********** **** ********* ***** ********'* preference / ***** ** ***** *** end ** *** ********:

  • "* ****** **** ** ** **** systems ********"
  • "***** *********, *** **** **** ** the **** ** ******, *********** ********, which ******** * ****."
  • "********* ** ********* ** ***** ***"
  • "***** ********** **** ******** *** ******** to ***** ******* ****** **** ***** a ****** ******."
  • "* **** ** *** ******** **** because ** ******** * **** ****** to *** *** ** ***** ******* but ******'* ******* ***** *** * different *** ***** ****."
  • "* **** *** **** ** *** of *** ********, **** *** *********** aspect ** **."
  • "*** **** ***** * ***** ******* on ** **** * **** **** were **** ****, *** ****'** ********* a ****** ***-**-*** ******** **** ***** the ******** ** ********* **** ******** and ***** **** **** ***** **** ask ***."

Dealer ******

********'* ******* ********** ****** ******* ********* praise *** **********.

** *** *** ****, **** ******* valued **** ********:

  • "* **** **** **** ******* ***** dealer *******"
  • "**** **** ******* * ********* ****** base."
  • "********* ************ *****"
  • "**** *** ******/******* *****."
  • "* **** **** * *** **** Avigilon *** *** ******** **** ***."

****** ******** **, ********** ***** *** were ****** ****** ******:

  • "* ** *** * *** ** the ****** ***********, ** * **** several ******* **** *** ******* *** brand *** ** **** ****** *******."
  • "*******: ***** *****. *** **** ** BE ******** (********* ** ******) ** SELL ***** *******."
  • "*** **** ********-*******, **** ** **** with ** **** *** **** ******* Avigilon."
  • "***'* *** **** ******* *** ****** is ******* **** *******."
  • "** ** **** *** ** ** be ******** ** * ** *** allowed ** ** * ******."
  • "*******- *'* *** * ****** ** I ***'* *** **! ;)"

*************

*** **** ********** ******** ******* ******** was ***** *** ***** *** ********* being *************:

  • "**** *** ********"
  • "* ********** ** * ******* **** no *********. ******** *********** ******"
  • "**** *** *** ****** ****** **** end *****."
  • "******* ***** *** ***** *********** ****** of ********."
  • "**** ******** *** ******** *******. **** headhunters **** * ****** **** **** I **** ** ******** ** ******** if **** ** *** ****'** *******. It ***** ** ** **** **** to **** * ********* **** ** a * *****, ** *** *****."
  • "**** ** * ********* *******, *** product **** **** ** ****** ********** and **** *** *********** ******* ** and *** ***** ****** ** **** all ****** *** ******** *** ***."
  • "***** ****** ***** *******."
  • "*** ******** **** ** *** **** amazing ***** **** ******* *** **** seen. ****, **'* *** **** ****, but ** ** ********* ******* ** as ****. *** ******* ******* *** demo *** ****** ********** ** * pretty *** **********. ***** *** ***** been * ****** **** **** **** look ** *** **** ****. *** reality ** ************ ******* ********* *** under-performing *******."
  • "*** ******* *** * ******* ** our ****** ** "**** *** ******" demo ********** (***** ***** ******* ** camera **** * **** ****** ****** the ****, ***** ****'** ******* ***** 2-3mp *******. **** ***'* *** ***** the **** ****** ***** *** *** they're *******, *** **** ********** ***'* go *** ** ***** *** ** remind *** ******)."
  • "**** ** *********, *** ** **** life"
  • "****** ***'* **** ********** ***** *** marketing ********."
  • "***** ********** ********* *** ***** ********** does *** ***** *** * ****** longterm ***********."

*******, *** ********** ***** * ********* turn-around:

* **** *** * ***** **** been ******** ******* ****, * ***** they **** **** ******* ** *** Hikvision ********* ** *** ******** ****. Our *** *** ***** ** **** up *****.

** **********-******'***** ****' ** ******** ******, *** philosophy *** *** ** *** *****, culture *** ********** *****. *******, ** has *** **** ***** *.* ***** since******* *** ********* ** **** **** ******** ***** team ****** ************* **** ********.

*******

*******, ******** ** ** ****** ****** shape **** ***********. ** ********** *** a ******* **** ******* ** ******* its *** ***-**-*** ********, ***** ************ is *********. ********'* **** ********** *** China (**** ********) *** ******** ***** own ************ *************** **** ************.

Comments (10)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Feb 27, 2017

Quik Trip stores seem to be hooked on avigilon, however when looking at them on the tvs they have hanging, Im not impressed at all. FPS seem really low and the resolution is poor, id say even a 1.3MP is much better than what they have....mind you this has been seen at stores less than a year old.

MM
Matthew Moyer
Mar 02, 2017

Avigilon cams turn bandwidth down when a cam is sitting and not pulled up recentlyor zoomed in on. When this happens the image is slightly degraded and does not give you the crisp image you are looking for. I did a school district with an Avigilon head end. In the lobby I used 1.3mp Panasonic cams. Image is awesome and secretaries can actually see who is at the door and what the are carrying. While doing preliminary set up for job with Avigilon they asked if we were using all their cameras. When I told them no that Panasonics were going in lobby they said to just put in one of their 3mp cams in instead. Needless to say we didn't and customer now sees why we put in cams we did. I like the head end and it is easy to use. I just don't like that they push their cams on you for everything.

(2)
(1)
MM
Michael Miller
Mar 02, 2017

Avigilon cams turn bandwidth down when a cam is sitting and not pulled up recentlyor zoomed in on.

This is incorrect.  Unless you are using "Idle Scene Mode" the cameras don't make any adjustments to the bandwidth.  What is happening the clients are automatically selecting the HD or SD Streams from the cameras depending on the available bandwidth, monitor resolution or matrix view.  This is called HDSM and it is designed to automatically adjust the streams to save you server to client bandwidth and processing power on your clients while needing zero setup time.  

If you want or need only the HD stream from the camera all you have to do disable the second stream in an Avigilon camera.  Then you will have the same results you get with the Panasonic camera. 

(4)
(1)
U
Undisclosed #2
Mar 02, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Unless you are using "Idle Scene Mode" the cameras don't make any adjustments to the bandwidth.

If "Idle Scene Mode" is enabled though, does the behavior Matthew describes occur, i.e. slight degradation, when it kicks in?

MM
Michael Miller
Mar 02, 2017

"Idle Scene Mode" adjusts image rate, image quality, bit rate and key frame depending on motion/analytics in the scene.   So if there is no motion you get settings X when there motion/analytics switch settings to Y.   

Screen resolution, matrix view or digital zoom does not change "Idle Scene Mode" If you want an HD image all the time with an Avigilon camera uncheck "enable secondary stream" in the camera.  By using the Panasonic camera only get the HD stream and you lose any of the bandwidth saving features, pixel search, firmware updates and more. 

(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Mar 03, 2017

Also, poorly configuring motion detection is likely the reason idle scene mode is occurring.  Learn to adjust thresholds people, don't just stick with default no matter which VMS.

This may also be HDSM based on the description.  If that is the case this can be overridden at the client by selecting Max quality, with the downside being significantly more processing and bandwidth at the client.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Oct 03, 2017

    I've read this thread with great interest. We are newly considering Avigilon because the Enterprise Level Customer specifies this site to be compatible with remote software. 

This means the NVR at minimum correct?

If anyone has anything to add to refresh the consensus for Q4/17

Please let us know how well Avigilon is maintaining now? 

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Oct 03, 2017

I work for AVIGILON although in a different part of the world. A lot of what I read above as being 'negative' seems to be down to SI's not selecting and or applying the correct settings and understanding HDSM as explained very well by Michael Miller. Training however is free through the online portal and in-person training is also free.

Most cameras nowadays come with features such as Idle Scene and Smart Codec and it's important to understand what these features do and when to tick the box or not tick the box in the cameras firmware.

Having been with the company for nearly 5 years I have seen the change of the guard and this has had a really good influence at all levels of the business.

I'm not sure what you mean with the NVR at minimum but if you wish to elaborate on that subject I'd be happy to reply to your question.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Oct 03, 2017

   Thanks for your encouraging reply. At a minimum, NVR was my referring to other brands of cameras working well with the VMS when viewed remotely or when reviewing archival footage. I was very impressed with footage that I've seen from panoramic cameras but wanted to be able to use less expensive cameras in less demanding positions if it helped get the business within the clients budget.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Oct 03, 2017

For viewing remote sites using the Client software you would require to run a Server (NVR) on site like and EDGE NVR, an Appliance or a Server which you could combine with nearly any ONVIF camera as well as the AVO range of cameras. This would give you access to live view as well as playback etc. There are EDGE cameras within the AVO range as well with on-board storage by means of SSD which can be deployed without the need of a local recording solution like an NVR on remote sites. The Client software is FOC. I hope this helps.