Sales are continuing to rise, fuelled by increased reseller knowledge, a bigger end user appetite and the launch of a 360 degree camera, according to distributor Nimans. Sites that wouldn’t have considered a standalone analogue CCTV solution in the past are now introducing IP devices by utilising existing data infrastructures.
“IP CCTV is a growing area of the market as more resellers discover how they can effectively expand and accelerate their sales potential,” confirmed Nimans’ Head of System Sales, Paul Burn. “We want them to understand how easy it is to add IP CCTV as an end point, enabling them to sell more overall customer solutions.”
Nimans sees IP CCTV as a significant reseller growth area; insisting “it’s technology every IP savvy dealer should be embracing.” In a further boost Panasonic has developed a range of 360 degree dome network cameras that include vandal resistant versions.
Cost and convenience are crucial factors in clinching sales whilst high image quality is another trump card, says Burn.
“I’d say that analogue sales remain strong but IP CCTV is catching up fast. In the future we expect IP to become the dominant player, a bit like when CD’s replaced old vinyl music albums.”
Paul says IP CCTV is a perfect fit for all data centric resellers, as it is essentially a network-based end point that is easy to install and maintain. “Quality of image is generally superior thanks to high bandwidth capacity,” he observed. “You can now achieve near HD quality footage which easily surpasses older analogue devices.”
“So long as you understand IP networks, which more and more resellers are mastering, it just becomes another end point to add on. Demand is growing all the time, on a much faster basis than analogue. IP is seen as the future. It’s more flexible, cost effective and involves less cabling. Generally you’ve just got cameras and a hard drive recorder to source. There’s far less hardware compared to an analogue system. Plug and play is very much the mantra.”
Paul says one of the big advantages is being able to view images off site, such as on a mobile device. “Panasonic resellers can also integrate IP CCTV directly into a new phone system to provide an all-in-one solution. This can provide a more compelling argument to clinch a sale, offering customers more upfront.”