Favorite SMB Video Surveillance Manufacturers 2015

By Brian Rhodes, Published Jun 15, 2015, 12:00am EDT

Most video surveillance manufacturers are fighting to expand their sales to the small to medium size business market.

With the high-end saturated from early IP camera adopters, premium brands like Axis and Milestone see SMB as their main growth opportunity. At the same, Chinese manufacturers, such as Hikvision and Dahua, view SMB as an easy entry into Western markets.

With so much interest here, what are people actually choosing? We surveyed 90 integrators to determine what they are using and why for small to medium-size businesses, defined as single site deployments with under 20 cameras.

On the camera side, 5 manufacturers took 80% of the selections, with 3 from Asia, 1 from Europe and 1 from North America. The consensus for those 5 was quite strong, with only 20% citing other brands.

On the recorder side, 4 manufacturers took 51% of the selections, with 1 from Asia, 1 from Europe and 2 from North America. The consensus was quite weak, with more than 20 other manufacturers splitting the other 49%. 

Key ******

***-**** ****** ************* ********* the *********, ***** **** 3 ** ***** ********* - *********, ***** *** Samsung ****** **% ** the *****. **** *********** how ***** ********* *** camera ****** **. *** things **********, **** *** fairly ****, ********* ** between *** * *************, coming ** ****** *****.

*******, ***-**** ******** ************* did ********** ******, **** more ********* / ******* brands (**** *****, *********, Avigilon, ***.) ****** * of *** * ******** spots. **** ********* ****** in *** *** *, largely ****** ** ***** big **** ** ****** sales *** ********* ****** by ******* ********* *** sub $***. *******, ******, these *******, **** **** even ** *** *****-********* SMB *******, *** **** differentiation ***** ****** ** recorders than *******.

SMB *********

**** * ******** ************* had ******* ********, **** the **** ** ***** spread ****** **** **** 20 ***** *********.

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

*** *********

**** *** *** *** 5 *** ******** ****** manufacturers:

Hikvision ******* **** ***

** *** *** ********, Hikvision *** * ***** preference **** **** ********** incumbents **** **** ** dealer-only ***** **** ********. Many ******** ***** **** camera ***** ********** ******* for ****** ********, *** for *** ********, *** chinese ***** ******** ** a *** ***:

  • "** **** **** **** & *** *** ***** Hikvision. ** ****** ** now ***** **** *********"
  • "*** **** ** ******* Pelco/Bosch ** **** ***** premium ****** ***** *** your ****** ******** ** over. *** ******* ** there **** ********* *** you ***** *** *** same * **** ******** you ***** **** *** other ******* *****."
  • "*** ** ******* ** use **** *********, *** before ** **** ***** SD ******."
  • "********* ******. ****** ******** often ******* ***-***** *** are **** ***** ********* and *** ***** **** happy **** * ******* brand *** *** *** a "******" ***."
  • "** *** ******* ***** Hikvision. ** ****** ******* we ******** **** ******** brands **** **** & Milestone."
  • "** **** * *** of ********* ******* ********** of *** ****** *****."
  • "*** **-***, ********* *********. They **** ***** **** varifocal ******, *** **** of **** *** *****, so ******* *** *******."
  • "**** **** ** * *********** issue, **'** ** **** Hikvision/OnSSI."
  • "******* ********* *** ******* projects *** **** *** larger."

Axis ******* ***** *****

** *** ***** ****, Axis **** ******* ******* essentially ******** *** *** end ** *** ******.  Average **** (****** ***** ** $***) ****** ***** **% to **% ****** **** offerings ****:

******* ****, *** ***** remains * ***** ************** for **** ********* ********* in *** *** *****. Some ********* **** ******* Axis ** *** **** no ****** *** ****:

  • "** **** *** **** cameras."
  • "**** ******* *********, ***** not ****** ** ****** projects."
  • "***** ** *** ********* an **** ****, ** will ********* **** **** Axis ********."
  • "******* **** ** ****** all ******** ********** ** size."
  • "** ********* ***** **** product ****** *** *****"

*******, **** *** ***** Axis ********* *** ***** is * ****** *** for ****** ******** ****** by ************** ** ***** acceptance:

  • "** ***** **** *******, but *** ** **** we ********* **** ** use **-**** ***** ******* to *******. ** ****** projects ***** ** * spec **** * *** so ****** *** **** comparable." 
  • "*** **** ****** ********** quality, ** ** ***** recommend **** ** ********* but **** ***** **** put ** ** * disadvantage **** * ******* perspective."
  • "*** ****** ********, ** will ***** ******* ***/** Axis. *********, ** ****** projects ***** ** **** important."
  • "****** ******** ***** ****** be *** **** ** Avigilon."
  • "**** *** - ******** or ****/*********- ***** *** Hikvision."
  • "******* ********* *** ******* projects *** **** *** larger."

Dahua ******* ***** *** ********

**** ***** *** ***** Chinese *****? ****, ***** still ******, *** ********* and **-*** *** ********* nearly *:* **** ********** than ***** ** ** HD-CVI *********. ******, ** North ******** ***** ********* cited ***** ** *** 'only' ******** ** *** SMB *****, ******* ***** on ********* ********** *** *****'* ******* in ******* *******.

  • "*** ********** (*** *** cameras) ***** ** *********."
  • "*****, *********, ** *******. If ***** ** ******* camera ******* **** **** perform ****** ** * certain ********, **** ** will *** ****. "
  • "** **** *** ********* stuff *** **** **** used ******* ***** ***'*. We **** **** **** various **** *** ******* kit."
  • "***** ** *********. ** going ** ** **** proactively, ****** **** ************ looking *** ** ********, we ***** ********."

Small **. *** ******* ***********

*** ******** ***** ***** recommendations ****** ***** ** the ******* **** ** project. *** ****** **** of *** ******** *****"***** [**** ***** ** camera ***************] ****** **** bigger ********? ***?"

** ***** *****, *** most ****** '***** *******' brand *** ****, *** many ***** ******* ***** were ********** *****. ** general, ***** ****, ***** was ** ***** ******* brand **********:

  • "******* *** **** ** Avigilon ***** ** *** lead ********. "*****" ******** would ** *********, ******* Watchdog ** *********."
  • "** *** ***** *** analog ** *** ****, ACTi, ******* *** ** based ********. *** ****** projects ** *** **** and *********."
  • "********* *** ****; *** larger ********, ** **** offer ******* ***/** ****."
  • "**** *** *** *** small ******** **** ** Samsung."
  • "********, *****, *** *******/***. We ********* *** *** Vivotek/Hik ** *** ******* projects. **** ***/********* ********* in **** ******."
  • "** ****** ******* ******* and *******, ***** ******* grow ****** ** ******** we ***** ******** ****** a ********* ******."
  • "* **** ** ***** ********* camera. ** **** **** the **** **** *'** offer ****."
  • "** ******* & *****: Samsung ******* ****, ******* Samsung ******* ***, *********, Axis * ******. *** 20 ******* & ******: Samsung ******* ***, **** P & * ******."
  • "******* ** *******. ********* it ******* ** *** requirements ** *** ***. If ************ *** **** fit *** ****, *** choice ** ******* *******. If ** *** **** the ******** ** **** of *** **** ******** features ** *******, **'** sell **** **** ******* cameras. ** ********* ***'* sell ** **** ******* in ********** ************ - its **** * ***** issue ** **** ***** still."

**** **** ******** **** analog ** ** **** the ******:

  • "** ***** *** ***** projects *** ******** ****** camera ** *** ***: mainly ******* **** ********* DS-2CE55C2P, **-********-***, **-********-**, ***."
  • "*********, ***** ** ** HD ****** **%. ** brand *** **% **** NVR ** ***. **** 10%. ** ****** ******** IP ******* **** ** more ** ** ******** more ******** *********."
  • "******* ***** **-*** **** and ****. **** ****** end ******* (********) ***** opt *** **, **** with ***** ****** ******."
  • "* ********* *** *** brand, ******** *****. **** are ****** *** ********* for **** ** *** brand **** *********. ****** project * ********* *** IP *******."
  • "* **** **** ********** a *** ** **** IP ****. ***** ***** is **** *** *** decent *******. * **** will ******* **** **** analog *******. ********* ** the ******** * **** also ***** **** ******* or *******. **** ***** definitely ****** **** ****** projects. * ***** *** quote *** **** ****** or *** ****** ******."

SMB ******** ******** *******

*****, **** ** *** breakdown *** ******** *** recorders:

*****

******* ** *** *************** *** *********, ***** ********* ** have ******* *******:

  • "***** ** * ****** fit *** ******* ******** because ***** ****'* ** many ********* ******** *** levels *** ****** ***** (credential, ********, ***** **** etc.)"
  • "** **** *** *****. The ********** ***** ** that *** ******* *** limited ** ****** ** IP ******'* **** ******* to ***** ******** ***** we *** ******* ******* virtual ********."
  • "**'** **** ************ ** Exacq *** *** ********. We ***** *** *** Start ******* ** *** software ** *** *** small ********"
  • "*********** *********. ****** ******** don't ****** **** ***** than *** ***** ****** gets ******* ** ****** the ********** *******."
  • "***** *** **** ***** and *****. **** ********* and ************* *** *** driving ****** **** ***** and *****."
  • "***** *** ******** ** all ****. ****** ** to ** **********."

*********

*** ********* *** ***** behind:

  • "******* ********* ** ****** all ******** ********** ** size."
  • "****** *********. ** *** price ** **** $**/ to $***/****** *******, ********* on **** *** ******** needs."
  • "*********. **** **** *** differ. ** ****** *** appropriate **** **** ** software ***** ** ******** requests, ****, *** ****** count."
  • "********* *********/ *******. ************ and ******* *** ****** projects"

*******, ********* *** ******** mentioned ** *** ** several ******* *********** ***** offer, ** ******** **** Exacq **** ****** ** be *** '****** ******' regardless ** ******* ****.  Note *** ******** ** the ********* *****:

  • "** *** ***** ***** recorders *** ****** ** and ********* ***** ** Milestone ******** ********* / Express *** ** ***** projects."
  • "********** **** **** ********* or ********* ******** *********. We **** ***** ********* Professional (** ******) *** larger ********."
  • "********* ********* ******** ***** possible *** ** **** also **** **** ****** Companion ** **** ********."
  • "********, *********. ** ** still ***** ********* ** some **** ***** (******* integrations), *** **'* ******** more ****."
  • "**** ****** *******, ********* Go ** **********, **** would ****** **** ****** projects ****** ** ******** capabilities."

*********

******** ** *****, ********* and ********, *********'* ******** is ******* ***** ** terms ** ************ ** user ********* *** ********* has *** **** **********: their ****** ****** *********** and ***** *** ***** price ***** ******** ** those *** *********.

  • "* *** ** *** milestone *** ********** *** i **** *** ********* nvr ** *** *** job ** *********."
  • "** *** ********* *** or *** *** ***** kinds ** ***** ********"
  • "** **** * *** of ********* ***'* ** to ** ******** ** their ***'* **** ******* POE ******** ** **** cost *********."
  • "*** *** ********/***** *** often ***** **** ** switch ** ***'* ******** with **** ********, ***. These **** *** ***** price, *** ***** ********** solutions.
  • "** ********* ***** ********* DVR/NVRs. ** ****** ******** we *** ****** **** VMS."
  • "********** **** **** ********* or ********* ******** *********. We **** ***** ********* Professional (** ******) *** larger ********."

Appliances ******

***** *** ******** *********** is ********** ********* ** larger ********, ** *** SMB ******, **** *********** called *** *** *** of ********** / **** as ***** *********:

  • "***** ********** ****** *** smaller ****. *** **** **** differ - ******* ***'* need ** ******"
  • "** **** * *** of ********* ***'* ** to ** ******** ** their ***'* **** ******* POE ******** ** **** cost *********."
  • "**** **** ***** ** Milestone *****"
  • "********** **** **** ********* or ********* ******** *********. We **** ***** ********* Professional (** ******) *** larger ********."
  • "** **** **** **** of ** *********, ** have *** **** ******* with *** ******* ***-**** and ***-****. *** **** difference ** ****** ************* is **** ** ***'* like ** *** ******** appliances (****** + ****** in *** ****) *** those, *** **'** ******** upgrade ** *** **********. Samsung ***** ****** **** the **** ** *** scale **, *** **** build *** *** *****."
  • "* **** **** ******* * NUUO *** **** ***** with **'* *** ***. If *** ******** ********* a **** ******, **** have ***** *** *** and *** ********."
  • "*** ****** ** ********* a ***** *****, ***** new ***** **** ***'*."
  • "******* ** *** ******, again ***** ******** ******* more ********** ************ *** a *** ** ******** system ***** ******* **** for *** ***** ******** owner."

Multiple ********* *******

*** ******* ***** *** a ******** ******** ******* multiple ******** *********, ******* showing * **** ** conensus ** *** ******** side. *** *******:

  • "***** ********, ******* ******* and ********."
  • "******** ***, **********, *******, Dahua."
  • "* **** **** ******* a **** *** **** comes **** **'* *** VMS. ** *** ******** purchases * **** ******, they **** ***** *** NVR *** *** ********. Lately, * **** **** selling * **** *** and **** ***** **** Camera ********* ** ***** the **** ************ ******* VMS."
  • "** ** *******, ****** Cayuga, ********** *** *** our ********."
  • "**** *********, *-*******, ** Spectrum."
  • "*** ****** ** ********* a ***** *****, ***** new ***** **** ***'*. We **** *** ******* and *****."
  • "** & *****: *******, Video *******, *********"

Avigilon **********

******** *** *** **** manufacturer ** **** ** on **** ***** (******* and *********), ****** ** their ******** ***** *******:

  • "******** **** ** *** projects."
  • "********."
  • "** ***** *** **** Avigilon ******** ********** ** size."
  • "** ***** **** **** with ********, *** *** a ****** ***** ******* we ***** ** **** Milestone ** ***** ** the ******** *** **** these ***'* ******."

*******, **** ******** ******* chose ** ***** ***** for *** *******.  ***** they *** **** *******, **** ********* **** **** alternatives ** *** ***** if ******* ** *** user ********** ***** *********:

  • "*** *** ********/***** *** often ***** **** ** switch ** ***'* ******** with **** ********, ***. These **** *** ***** price, *** ***** ********** solutions."
  • "***** ** ********. ******* its **** ***** **** of ***. ****** ******** are **** ***** **** the ******'* **** ******** and *** *** *** will ******* *** ***'* (Critical ******* *******)."
  • "***** \ *********. ****** budget ****** ********. ****** projects - ********. **** thing ** ********* - up ** ** ******* on * *****\********* ** ok ** ******. ******** just **** ****** *** an *** **** ** navigate *******."

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