Video Surveillance Platforms
A platform for video surveillance could dramatically improve the effectiveness of video surveillance. However, no manufactuer has developed an actual platform despite frequent marketing claims to the contrary. This report explores the customer benefits of platforms and the key operational elements needed to make a platform.
The Customer Value of Platforms
From a customer perspective, platforms are valuable because no manufacturer can meet the diverse needs of all customers. For instance, in security, we have thousands of uses -- farming, hospitals, mines, ships, etc. to name a few. It's impossible for any manufacturer to develop a solution that is simultaneously optimized for all of these applications. Instead, basically all video management systems are designed for a general, average use case. This approach limits significantly the value of video management. A true platform would allow hundreds of customized applications that delivering optimized solutions for a variety of security applications that have traditionally been underserved.
Criteria for a Plaform
The solution in software development is to develop a framework that allow 3rd party organizations to:
- Develop specialized solutions
- Leveraging extensive tools and functionalities provided by the platform provider
- Distribute/sell those specialized solutions to other users