How Businesses Can Leverage Video Analytics to Improve Efficiency
Updated Tue Feb 10 2026
Hardik Sanghvi
Retailers have historically viewed video surveillance as a security-related activity.
This is understandable given the recent rise in retail crime, highlighting the importance of a solid monitoring system to reduce shrinkage and enhance retail establishments' safety and security. Five or ten years ago, this would have seemed like science fiction. However, with today's surveillance systems, businesses can secure their stores in ways that would have seemed unreal. They can immediately notify you of unusual or suspicious activity before a security crisis occurs.
However, retailers can now use their video equipment for purposes far beyond security, thanks to developments in contemporary analytics. Many retailers leverage their current surveillance systems to collect fresh data and produce the actionable insights required to boost productivity, optimise operations, and expand their business intelligence capabilities. This is due to the advancement of visual sensors, image quality, and processing power.
Retailers who take full advantage of their data are already enjoying a significant competitive advantage over their rivals as more companies get access to these insightful new video analytics.
Unveiling the Mechanics of Video Analytics
Video analytics uses mathematical algorithms to analyse, manage, and monitor large amounts of video footage. It works by digitally analysing video inputs, turning them into valuable data, and aiding decision-making processes. Real-time video analytics is commonly used in surveillance systems to track specific events and send immediate alerts. Additionally, it can also be utilised to search for past events that have already taken place.
There are two main types of video analytics solutions:
1. Centralised: These solutions run on a central monitoring system where all the video feeds are processed and analysed.
2. Edge-based: In this setup, the video analytics software is installed directly on the security cameras. This allows for live analysis without consuming excessive network bandwidth.
Post-processing analytics refers to the analysis performed after the fact, typically by operators or security personnel. Its primary purpose is to assist operators in searching through recorded footage using various parameters multiple times. This helps them identify any potential suspicious incidents that may have occurred and verify the results obtained from the initial analysis.
Maximising Business Security: Exploring the Advantages of Video Analytics in Surveillance
Effortless Surveillance
Machines maintain constant vigilance, capable of monitoring multiple camera feeds simultaneously and detecting details beyond human perception. Video analytics solutions are specifically crafted to recognise human figures, effectively minimising false alarms triggered by environmental factors like wind, birds, or animals.
Furthermore, these systems are adept at monitoring vehicular activity. By integrating artificial intelligence, they capture high-definition images of potentially suspicious events during live video monitoring and recording sessions.
Intelligent Recognition
CCTV intelligent video analysis is a high-tech security system that does more than watch—it actively looks for suspicious activity. Businesses can customise preset commands to fit their security needs. For example, the system can sound an alert if someone acts strangely near an ATM. Here are some joint alert triggers:
1. Crowd Alert: When too many people gather in one spot.
2. Object in the Zone: If a person or vehicle enters a restricted area.
3. Loitering Detection: When someone hangs around longer than they should.
4. Wrong Parking: If a vehicle parks where it shouldn't.
5. Object Missing or Removed: When something valuable disappears suddenly.
These simple rules help businesses keep an eye out for trouble and respond quickly when needed.
Remote Oversight
According to a report, 40% of industrial/commercial crimes are guard-assisted. Therefore, keeping the operators offsite who receive the alert is always better. Businesses are adopting video analytics as a service and making this possible. Additionally, these alerts can be sent to your in-house guards, email, or smartphones.
Effortless Employee Compliance
A tea break should last for 15 minutes and not exceed that time. The employee must stay until 7 PM; if someone leaves 20 minutes early, the video analytics companies' program can detect this deviation from the schedule. Likewise, the nurse should always be near the ICU, as her absence can be identified using analytics.
Instant Notification System for Security Breaches
Video analytics provides far more than traditional video surveillance capabilities. It enables real-time monitoring of camera feeds and automatic responses to trespassers attempting to enter your premises. Intruders can be effectively deterred by integrating video surveillance analytics with sensors, security lights, and loudspeakers.
Upon detection, the system promptly activates security lights, triggers the alarm, and delivers a pre-recorded verbal warning, deterring intruders and preventing potential damage. This same mechanism is equally effective in responding to fire outbreaks, ensuring timely alerts and appropriate actions to mitigate risks.
Skirts the Office Gridlock with Ease
Using video analytics, businesses can tackle traffic congestion and improve parking with an intelligent system. Surveillance cameras track vehicle movement, helping to identify congested areas and redirect traffic. Additionally, a smart parking system analyses CCTV footage to pinpoint available spots, making it easier for employees and visitors to find parking quickly. This not only saves time but also optimises parking space. These solutions enhance efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve the parking experience.
Streamlined Entry Management
Licence plate recognition (LPR) and facial recognition technologies instantly identify vehicles and people. They work in real-time and can also scan recorded footage. This allows for swift decision-making, like spotting a specific individual or vehicle. Moreover, these systems determine who is authorised to enter secure areas and only grant access. This means there's no need for manual verification, streamlining security processes and reducing the risk of unauthorised entry.
Effective Crowd Oversight
Video analytics, an essential aspect of security surveillance in various settings like hospitals, shopping malls, airports, and stadiums, offers valuable features for monitoring. One such feature is estimating the real-time crowd size by analysing live video feeds. This technology is adept at recognising the number of people within a space. It can raise alerts if this exceeds a predefined limit.
Additionally, it tracks crowd movement, detecting any unauthorised directions of travel. This capability enhances security measures by enabling proactive interventions to manage crowd dynamics effectively. With video analytics, security personnel can stay vigilant and respond promptly to potential security threats or safety concerns, maintaining a safe environment for all occupants.
Boosting Income Streams
Video analytics empowers businesses with actionable insights to boost revenues. Businesses understand consumer behaviour by analysing foot traffic and dwell times and identifying popular sections and high-selling products. This data informs the strategic placement of new items and promotions for increased sales.
Additionally, analytics pinpoint optimal timing for campaigns and product launches, ensuring timely inventory restocking. Continuous evaluation of promotional effectiveness enables businesses to refine strategies for sustained revenue growth and enhanced competitiveness.
Understanding Consumers
Video analytics offers businesses invaluable insights into customer behaviour and preferences. By analysing video footage from various touchpoints like stores and websites, analytics tools can track foot traffic, demographics, and approximate age, enabling businesses to understand which customer segments are most engaged and profitable.
Additionally, video analytics unveils customer journeys and pain points, revealing where customers spend the most time and what captures their interest. This data helps identify hotspots, busy areas, and idle zones, informing customised marketing, pricing, and product placement strategies. With these insights, businesses can enhance customer experiences, increasing average basket sizes and customer loyalty.
Conclusion
Video monitoring has always been a vital part of the security industry. But things have come a long way since humans had to watch over operations manually. Nowadays, we have advanced software-based video analytics that can do the job more efficiently. One of the main functions of video surveillance analytics is real-time character identification. This lays the groundwork for other essential tasks, the most crucial being constantly monitoring visitors and staff members.
But there's more to it than just live tracking. Video analytics also make use of stored data to uncover valuable insights. For example, it can help determine the busiest times of the week or day based on customer traffic. Immediate alerts can be generated if they detect unusual patterns or signs of trouble due to overcrowding. Certain areas can be designated for specific activities, with the tools being programmed to identify unauthorised individuals and raise alarms instantly. The system is also trained to accurately recognise particular incidents, such as detecting smoke or fires breaking out in offices, banks, retail stores, and warehouses.
Intruder detection is another vital function of video surveillance analytics. Using sophisticated algorithms that filter out movements caused by animals or weather conditions like rain, wind, or snow, these analytics solutions can effectively deter burglars from commercial properties. This not only helps businesses protect their assets but also ensures the safety of their employees. As a result, there is a growing demand for advanced video surveillance analytics in enterprise security systems, and this trend is expected to continue. Outsourcing live video monitoring has emerged as a popular choice for companies. By delegating this task to external experts, businesses can receive reliable data and free up their resources to focus on core activities. It's a cost-effective and time-saving solution that offers peace of mind.
Industry Resources
For more information on the topics discussed in this article, visit these authoritative sources: Security Industry Association (SIA) (https://www.securityindustry.org/) | ASIS International (https://www.asisonline.org/)
Table of Contents
Unveiling the Mechanics of Video Analytics
Maximising Business Security: Exploring the Advantages of Video Analytics in Surveillance
Industry Resources