Category: Feature

Martin Gill, Founder of the OSPAs In December 2022 the second India Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) took place, virtually because of Covid. The awards ceremony brought together all the leading security associations in India and recognised those who have excelled in different areas of security work. The OSPAs are global, currently in 15 countries and expanding. What makes them different to any other security awards scheme on the planet? The OSPAs do not just recognise outstanding security companies and individuals (at different levels from director to those working on the frontline), they also recognise security teams, initiatives and products. The awards are based on strict ethical principles with a transparent process to create a level playing field. For example, all the judges are nominated by the security associations; they all agree to mark to an ethics policy; they have to declare any conflict of interest on every mark sheet. This is the same globally. “The awards started in Norway, then to Germany and Australia, and is now in 15 countries; this year will see the addition of Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand – these awards are truly global. In due course the winners of every category in every country will compete for a global OSPAs, that is our vision” The awards started in Norway, then to Germany and Australia, and is now in 15 countries; this year will see the addition of Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand – these awards are truly global. In due course the winners of every category in every country will compete for a global OSPAs, that is our vision. There are a variety of categories, the same in every country, all based on research which was designed to distinguish those who are excellent from those who are merely good. The criteria are published for the world to see. They cover many diverse areas of security recognising that security professionals work in many different sectors conducting a range of important activities that need and merit being highlighted. Increasingly, around the world, people are looking at the winners of the OSPAs as example setters; after all, to win an OSPA is an achievement, there is a more rigorous process than is normal with awards which makes being a finalist and a winner all the more rewarding. This is important, as a sector we need to recognise who is excellent and who is making a difference; that is a key route to progress. Moreover, for too often competent security professionals and the organisations they work for and the teams they work with, have operated under the radar. As a consequence the true value of security remains under appreciated. In organisations the role of security is rarely understood for the true value it brings; the OSPAs are a part of the process bringing about a change. In India, working with our event partners, Business World, we are already planning the 2022 OSPAs. It promises to be bigger than every before. We hope the event will be a physical event this year, a gala occasion recognising the very best security has to offer. And because the OSPAs are global, it is not just Indian security professionals who will be watching, the OSPAs will be a window to the world. We already know the very best of India security is excellent, we just need to tell more people about it.  

Ashish P. Dhakan MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd. Entering 2022, the world continues to endure the pandemic. But the security industry has, no doubt, continued to shift, adapt, and develop in spite of things. Several trends have even accelerated. Beyond traditional ‘physical security,’ a host of frontiers like AI, cloud computing, IoT, and cybersecurity are being rapidly pioneered by entities big and small in our industry. By all appearances, the security industry is in a stage of redefining itself. It is moving from mere security and safety protections to encompass a wider scope of activity that will expand safety while also bringing new levels of intelligence and sustainability to communities, companies and societies. Here, Hikvision would like to share some of our ideas and expectations about the key trends that will likely affect the security industry in 2022 and perhaps even further into the future. AI will be everywhere Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence is quite common in the security industry. More customers in the industry have recognized the value of AI, and have found new uses for AI applications in various scenarios. Along with ANPR, automated event alerts, and false alarm reduction, AI technologies are being used for wider applications, like personal protective equipment (PPE) detection, fall detection for the elderly, mine surface detection, and much more. Meanwhile, we also have seen more collaboration across the industry, with security manufacturers opening their hardware products to third-party AI applications, and launching open platforms for customers to create and train their own AI algorithms to meet customized needs. AI has been one of the fundamental technologies to reshape the security industry. Benefiting from the optimization of algorithms, as well as the improved computing performance and the decreased cost of chips due to the advancement of semiconductor technology in recent years, AI applications are gradually forming the basic functions and capabilities accepted by all sectors in the industry, and we predict an even stronger tendency to assert that ‘AI will be everywhere.’ AIoT will digitize and pervade industry verticals With more security cameras and other security devices being connected to the network, the security industry is becoming an important part of an IoT world, enriching its visual capabilities. It’s apparent that the boundaries of the security industry are blurring, going well beyond the physical security arena. Meanwhile the popularization of AI technology enables the connected devices to become intelligent ‘things’ in the IoT world. The combination of AI and IoT, or as we call it, AIoT, is taking the security industry to a higher plain, automating the workflows and procedures of enterprises and aiding in the digital transformation of various industry verticals such as energy, logistics, manufacturing, retail, education, healthcare etc. From our perspective, AIoT brings more possibilities to the industry with rapidly expanding applications for security devices and systems. Meanwhile, more perception capabilities like radar, Lidar, temperature measuring, humidity sensing, and gas leak detection are being added to security devices and systems to make them more powerful. These new devices shoulder a multiplicity of tasks that just a few years ago required several different devices, covering both security functions and other intelligent functions for an ever-advancing world. Converged systems will break down data silos Workers throughout private enterprises and public service sectors alike would jump at the chance to get rid of obstructive ‘data silos.’ Data and information scattered and isolated in disparate systems or groups creates barriers to information sharing and collaboration, preventing managers from getting a holistic view of their operations. Here, the convergence of various information systems has been proven to be an effective approach – hopefully enough to break down those silos. It’s clear – the trend in the security industry has been to make efforts to converge systems wherever possible, including video, access control, alarms, fire prevention, and emergency management, to name a few. Further, more non-security systems, like human resources, finance, inventory, and logistics systems are also converging onto unified management platforms to increase collaboration and to support management in better decision-making based on more comprehensive data and analytics. Cloud-based solutions and services will be essential Like AI, the cloud is not a new trend in our industry, but it is an expanding one. From small business markets to enterprise levels, we can see the momentum push more and more businesses to leverage cloud-based security solutions and services. And as we are witnessing even now, the pandemic has accelerated the movement to cloud-based operations for people and businesses around the world. All businesses want platforms or services that offer simplicity, with as few assets to manage as possible, and a setup that’s as simple as possible. This is precisely where the cloud delivers. With a cloud-hosting infrastructure, there is no need for a local server or software. Users can conveniently check the status of their assets and businesses in real time, receive security events and alarms quickly, and accomplish emergency responses simply using a mobile app. For security business operators, the cloud enables them to remotely help their clients, configure devices, fix bugs, maintain and upgrade security systems, and provide better value-added services. Crystal clear security imaging will be standard in any weather, under any conditions, any time of day or night It is always vital for video security cameras, as a core function to maintain image clarity and capture details 24 hours a day, in any weather and under any condition. Cameras with low light imaging technology that renders high-definition and full-color images at night and in nearly completely dark environments have been very welcome in the market. We are taking note of the impressive technology applied to more camera models, including 4K, Varifocal and PTZ cameras. Moreover, for clearer video security imaging in poor visibility – especially in severe weather – high-performance imaging sensors, ISP technology, and AI algorithms are being employed, enabling cameras to maintain clarity and details of the view. Speaking of imaging technology, the trend toward incorporating multiple lenses in new cameras cannot be ignored. Single-lens cameras are…

The question for every logistics company is how to maximize performance and supply chain security. The latest generation of smart logistics solutions can help, with tools for optimized vehicle and dock management, end-to-end order tracking, fleet management, employee health & safety, and more, says Harvey Zheng, Senior Solution Manager for Logistics Industry at Hikvision Supply chain globalization, the booming e-commerce market and rising demand for manufactured goods have all driven growth in the logistics industry. To take full advantage of this industry boom, logistics companies need to maximize their performance and throughput, while tracking and securing many thousands of orders and deliveries every day. But optimizing logistics operations is easier said than done. One major issue is that logistics managers often lack the real-time information they need to make fast, accurate decisions. For example, they may not be able to see which facilities are experiencing performance issues, which orders have been delayed and why, or which partners are missing their delivery SLAs. The solution: Next-generation logistics management solutions To solve these and other challenges, more companies are turning to advanced technology for help. They’re implementing the equipment, applications, software, and tools needed to gain better visibility and control over their logistics operations. Next-generation logistics management solutions also make the global supply chain more customer-centric and sustainable. By automating logistics processes, for instance, organizations can enhance the productivity and efficiency of their workflows; increase transparency and traceability in their supply chains; and maintain flexible and dynamic relationships with their stakeholders. The role of smart video in logistics management   One key technology for next-generation logistics management is smart video, an evolution of the cameras that companies have been using in their warehouses, distribution centers (DCs), and yards for decades. While traditional cameras were used for security monitoring only, smart video solutions use AI, machine learning and other advanced technologies to boost efficiency, productivity, and even worker health and safety. The top benefits of smart video By taking the decision to deploy industry leading smart video solutions as part of their logistics management environment, companies can: Enhance personnel management and health and safety: With AI algorithms that send alerts automatically if employees are not wearing the required protective equipment, or if they get to close to dangerous machinery, for example. Optimize vehicle and dock management: With dashboards that display the status of each loading dock in real time, which allow vehicles to load and unload more quickly and help to maximize efficiency and throughput. Improve goods and order tracking: Based on the ability to create an automated, secure, and fully trackable goods management process. This supports the secure flow of goods at one site (or across multiple sites) and includes solutions for accurate, secure goods scanning, tracking and delivery. Increase site security: Based on perimeter protection solutions that provide crystal-clear video footage, even in zero-light environments. Radar and dome cameras can also be combined to detect any unauthorized people or vehicles entering the site; and to trigger automated alerts for any suspicious movements. Optimize fleet management: With on-board infrastructure that monitors vehicles’ interiors and their surroundings. These systems also feature a powerful software platform for live view, video playback, GIS map locations, device health monitoring, fuel consumption checking, goods quality monitoring, emergency alarms, and more. Also Read:- AI, Robotics & IoT Security Tech Got Overwhelming Response

Vikas Bhonsle, CEO, Crayon Software Experts India Since 2020, inconsistencies have become a new norm for businesses globally. Even though the industry is preparing to open up again in full swing and get back to some level of normalcy, it is still unclear if the pandemic conditions are going away any time soon. On the brighter side, businesses have become well versed with pandemic implied difficulties and survival mechanisms for future scenarios. The business models of the past are becoming obsolete for the future. The specific strategies below can help companies to prepare for the better or worse: Multi-cloud adoption In 2020, many companies had to close down their onsite operations and make a swift move to the cloud. However, instead of choosing one cloud provider, it is advisable to diversify the cloud adoption and go for a Multicloud approach. Apart from the regular benefits, like innovation, expansion, and cost-savings, Multicloud mitigates the drawback of ‘Vendor Lock-in’ – the perennial IT problem of being so dependent on a vendor that the costs of moving elsewhere are restricted. With Multicloud, companies can cherry-pick the services and applications that are best suited to their business. It also gives the customer a fair chance to better negotiate when it comes to costs and contracts. Also, in a Multicloud environment, if one vendor suffers an outage, it is reassuring to know about the other options for business recovery and continuity. Re-skilling and up-skilling of Employees The pandemic has brought massive changes to the economic landscape, which requires companies to adopt new approaches for mobilizing their existing talent base. All business models and operations are being reimagined and reinvented. Hence, to build a resilient workforce, existing employees must be trained to adapt to the changes. It will not just help employees become better skilled and stay relevant in their jobs, but it will also create a sense of balance in the talent demand and supply gap. Bring Agility and Purpose to Your Company The pandemic forced many organizations to accelerate processes and be more agile. Now the goal is to maintain the same pace by nurturing it from inside the organization. This will happen by investing in new collaboration technologies. With everyone going pro-digital, there will be a natural demand for the speedy delivery in communication and services. Also, to retain employees for long, companies must bring a sense of purpose to the business. A McKinsey report states that companies with a strong sense of purpose outperform those that lack one. The overall purpose also helps companies recognize emerging opportunities and connect with their customers. This, too, should therefore be seen as a priority and a source of competitive advantage. Use of Data-centric technologies to manage operations in a better way Data is the direct output of digital solutions. Incorporating data analysis and creating new models to enable real-time decision making is the way to go ahead in the future. After the 2008 financial crisis, many risk and financial models had to be rebuilt. Similarly, in the post-COVID-19 era, the use of data and analytics will need to be recalibrated. New data models must be enhanced and validated to enable companies to address demand forecasting, asset management, and coping with massive new volumes of data. The Great Reset Digital transformation is not just critical, but the natural progression for businesses to navigate future times. The above mentioned strategic directions, among many others, will help companies to sustain and support their customers and stakeholders in a better way during these unprecedented times.  

Nikhil Korgaonkar, Regional Director, Arcserve India & SAARC Sophistication in cyberattacks is increasing by the day, with only 1 in 5 enterprises being confident that they could recover from a ransomware attack. In a recent survey conducted by Dimensional Research, 96% of IT decision-makers reported they are worried about ransomware attacks. CISOs are stepping up the protection of their business with prevention solutions, such as firewalls, identity, and access management and passwords. However, there is still one challenge at large – data storage. Understanding the Importance of Immutable Storage When a company falls victim to a cyberattack, every second of business downtime is painful and expensive and can result in a loss of $5,600 per minute, according to Gartner. Cyberattack prevention measures are essential for security. The total cost of recovery from a ransomware attack has more than doubled in a year, increasing from $761,106 in 2020 to $1.85 million in 2021 globally, as per the Sophos report. However, CISOs also need data protection to achieve their primary objective of data security and availability. Achieving this well depends on data backup and storage. Indian companies pay around $76,619 as ransom on average. However, despite paying up the ransom, on average, organisations could retrieve only 75 per cent of their data in India, compared to a global average of 65 percent, and only 4 per cent got all their data back. Solutions such as firewalls, identity, access management and passwords etc., underpin all business operations and are prime targets for hackers during cyberattacks. These solutions should, therefore, also be the top priority when it comes to preparing data security policies. Backup and immutable storage solutions protect data in case of an attack or any other business disaster. They are the last line of defence that guarantees data security and availability. Establishing data immutability for optimal security Implementing a holistic approach to data security by integrating an immutable data storage solution is crucial as it strengthens data resilience. A business can never stop cyberattacks, but neutralizing their effects can ensure business continuity, which is critical. The most important step for a company that wants to protect itself against ransomware is to back up files regularly and store them using an immutable storage solution. The most sophisticated attacks make it possible to encrypt both the files and the recovery points. An immutable snapshot is a copy of your data that ransomware or a user cannot modify or delete. An organization can quickly recover data written to an immutable data storage solution following data corruption or deletion, ransomware attacks, or other issues. Indeed, users can independently recover their data by looking through their files on Windows Explorer or Finder on a Mac. There’s no need to recover data using the previous day’s backup – users look through the files and select the data they want to restore. As well as making their teams aware of security risks, CISOs must also increase their awareness of the importance of data storage. Data security policies are often limited to the basics and are not robust enough in today’s world, where the number of attacks is rising. Data is a huge money-maker for hackers, so businesses should be asking, not if, but when they will become ransomware victims. Now is the time to change your information security strategy and incorporate a holistic approach to data protection.  

Everyone knows that high definition (HD) is amazing, dramatically improving viewing quality and experience. For security, that’s super important. For example, HD images can significantly assist in event investigations, particularly in terms of reviewing incidents and verifying claims. On the other hand, if video of license plates or other key evidence is grainy and blurry, it can make cases time-consuming, difficult, and expensive to solve. Likewise, for business owners that are looking for peace of mind, high-definition footage supports faster, more effective incident responses. But HD deployments don’t always give the benefits customers expect, especially if it’s a retrofit, meaning that cameras are being upgraded at the front end. In fact, getting an upgrade right requires an in-depth review of your end-to-end security infrastructure to ensure that HD cameras can be supported effectively. For example, many networks can only handle three to four Mbps (megabits per second), while HD cameras typically require 5-8Mbps to stream videos. In such a case, the performance of HD cameras would be negatively impacted, and investments wasted. Here are our three tips for ensuring that your end-to-end security infrastructure can support new HD cameras, and deliver all the benefits your organization expects: Select a high-definition camera that suits your needs Some HD cameras are designed to give visibility across large areas, while some focus on small spaces; and some can zoom in on a person or vehicle of interest while others can’t. That’s why you need to choose cameras that are right for your specific needs, whether you’re looking to monitor a large parking lot, or the front yard of a family house. You can ensure you choose the right HD camera by clarifying the use case you’re with your local security installer. They can help you choose the right kit and the right lens and image resolution options based on whether you need to detect, observe, recognize, or identify an object and on how far, and how clearly your cameras need to ‘see.’ When it comes to analog… I t is obvious that network cameras or IP cameras have gained a lot of popularity in the market as they are flexible to deploy, expandable, and can incorporate a number of intelligent functions based on algorithms. However, this doesn’t mean that customers with existing analog system can’t upgrade their systems to HD. On the contrary, they can deploy HD capabilities without replacing the whole infrastructure. This is made possible with the High Definition Transport Video Interface (HDTVI) standard, which is available with Turbo HD products from Hikvision. With Turbo HD, HD-over-coaxial solutions allow customers to achieve superior picture quality in the analog world. Choose technologies that maximize storage efficiency and lower costs Compared to conventional CCTV, the transmission of HD images consumes more network bandwidth and storage space. This means limiting the bitrate from HD video streams is critical. Advanced video encoding technology like the Hikvision H.265+ can solve this problem, greatly reducing the bitrate of recorded footage, as well as bandwidth and storage costs. According to a 24-hour testing in a busy café restaurant, with cameras at the same resolution and frame rate, we found that the H.264 codec yielded an average of 22.7 GB. Strikingly, Hikvision’s H.265+ averaged only 3.9 GB, demonstrating an 83% improvement in storage consumption. It’s also possible to maximize transmission and storage efficiency with the right video recording plan. In some cases, for example, when it’s important to capture specific events in a video timeline, customers can implement a video recording plan only when the pre-defined event rules are triggered. In other cases, full-time video recordings is necessary, which requires a continuous recording plan. Alternatively, a mixed recording plan can be used, for example, for continuous video recording on weekdays and event recording on weekends, or for any other configuration of times and days. Make sure your monitor delivers the right HD viewing experience It would be a shame if you have had good quality HD security cameras and network environment, but the video images on the monitor are in low resolution. In other words, if you deployed an HD camera at 2MP, and your monitor supports up to 720P, ultimately you would get video images with 720P resolution, instead of 1080P your camera is able to provide. So, to get the most out of the HD cameras and infrastructure you have, you need a monitor that is at least 1080 pixels. Preferably, it should also be equipped with proper image rendering and processing technologies to deliver true-to-life HD images. Only this way will you get the crystal-clear images that the leading HD cameras can provide. Basically, the more pixels per inch (PPI), the higher the resolution is. Therefore, with the same 1080P resolution, monitors in a 22-inch format will provide sharper images than monitors in a 24-inch format. So, if customers need monitors for small business use, for instance, a café restaurant, a monitor with smaller size would do the job well. For larger scenarios like industrial parks and stadiums, big-sized video walls with 4K resolution are ideal. Implement your HD retrofit plan with Hikvision From high-quality image capturing, to efficient HD image transmission and storage, HD image display and viewing, Hikvision has thought about all of these key steps and designed our solutions to optimize your HD deployment. As an IoT solution provider with video as its core competency, Hikvision provides a wide range of HD cameras featuring various resolutions and top-notch image processing technologies, which dramatically address customers’ needs under different scenarios and budgets. The company’s inhouse H.265+ video encoding technology ensures that HD images can be transmitted and stored in an efficient way without compromising image quality. Its display products including monitors, video walls, and the latest LED products offer unrivalled visual experience to suit every security need, indoor and outdoor.  

Johan Paulsson, CTO, Axis Communications It only feels like five minutes since we published our 2021 technology trends post. The past year has flown by. I hope it’s been a positive one for all of you, and though we’re still experiencing an uncertain environment, you’ve remained healthy and safe. As ever, I tend to start thinking about next year’s technology trends in the context of those which we predicted for this year. However, having published annual technology trends posts for a while now, I looked back through them all to prompt some thoughts. What’s very clear is that the concept of ‘trust’ has appeared in most of the posts in one form or another. The context has changed slightly over the years, sometimes focused on trust in the use of data, trust that systems are secure, or the fundamental need to trust that organizations are doing the right thing. But it’s clear that matching the ongoing pace of technology innovation through an equal evolution in building trust in the use of technology is vital. We don’t think that 2022 will be any different. Now more than ever there’s a healthy desire – from individuals, organizations, and legislators – to ensure that new technologies are being developed, manufactured, used and secured in ways that we can trust are positive. For Axis, of course, that means always working towards our vision of a smarter, safer world. As we move into 2022, it’s interesting to see how many of the technology trends we see for year can be linked back to the need to build a trusted technology ecosystem. Universally connected across hybrid environments To the end user of technology – from a consumer using their mobile phone to security personnel managing video surveillance – the technology architecture being used to deliver services has become invisible. Whether processing takes place on a device, local server or in a remote data center doesn’t matter – everything is simply ‘connected’. Last year we talked about the world going ‘horizontal,’ where the combination of cloud, on-premise server and edge technologies would be increasingly used together, each employed to its strengths, in so-called hybrid solutions. This hasn’t changed, but it’s very apparent that the question of architecture is unique to each customer and needs to take account of both internal resources and policies, and of external factors such as local and international regulation. As a security solution vendor, it’s not up to us to define for the customer the environments and architecture they should use, but rather to equip them with the tools and flexibility to decide on the best solution for their unique situation. Given that ‘connected’ has become the default, we do believe that most surveillance solutions will ultimately be hybrid – indeed, many already are – which in itself has implications. Cybersecurity born from a healthy skepticism We don’t always think of skepticism as a positive trait, but in relation to cybersecurity it can be a prudent one. The billions of connections that now exist between devices, networks, and data centers have made the concept of securing a perimeter around any organization almost completely obsolete. The walls that might have previously existed have become permeable, and a new approach to security has therefore emerged – zero trust networks. Regular readers of our annual technology trends post may question the move to zero trust networks as a trend for 2022, given it was mentioned in last year’s post. But while a year ago we foresaw the rapid acceleration towards zero trust network architectures, we now believe it to be a default approach. The COVID-19 pandemic has played a role here too, as much more flexible work has seen more devices previously used within the organization’s walls connected remotely over the public internet. When zero trust networks means that the security profile for each device and application connecting to a network is independently evaluated each time it connects, it has significant implications for the video surveillance sector. Signed firmware, regular software updates, secure boot, encrypted data/ video and secure identity will become hygiene factors in customer solutions, moving from ‘nice to have’ to ‘must have.’ Authenticate everything While taking a zero-trust approach to cybersecurity is focused on authenticate the credentials of connected devices and applications, the ability to establish the authenticity of video surveillance itself is fundamental to trust in its value. Tampering with video after it is captured, along with the increased sophistication in creating manipulated images, means that we may see the authenticity of video surveillance footage being more regularly questioned. It is therefore going to be imperative that video surveillance can be undeniably established as genuine. Our approach is to add a digital signature into the video stream at the point of capture – a hash in each video frame – supplying proof that the video was produced inside a specific camera and that it hasn’t been tampered with since. But this is an issue for the security industry as a whole. It is therefore imperative that the industry aligns behind initiatives to standardize on approaches to secure the authenticity of video footage captured by video surveillance cameras, ideally based on open-source software and initiatives. AI becomes established and accepted (with appropriate controls) It seems impossible to write a technology trends post without mention of artificial intelligence (AI). Many would also argue that AI is no longer a trend, and that the AI ‘genie’ is well and truly out of the bottle. Indeed, we’re all using and being exposed to valuable AI and deep learning-based services on a daily basis. Our view remains that technology in itself shouldn’t be regulated, but that use cases of new technology should be. Legislation and regulation relating to the development and use of AI-based technologies and applications should be developed at a local, regional and international level. And it goes without saying that it should be adhered to by every organization employing AI. While we’re still positive about the potential for AI and deep learning in…

More and more buildings are being billed as having a mixed-use component. This means that instead of only having a single application they combine different applications like office and retail and residential. With this in mind, architects and building designers are taxed with the challenge of designing effective security with smother people flow management systems. The goal of integrating electronic access control with an elevator destination control system is to ensure people are transported efficiently to their destination floor rapidly without compromising physical security protocols. Simply put, an efficient elevator destination control system ensures authorized users are able to gain quick and efficient entry to an elevator. Which will bring them to predetermined floors of a building without compromising security. COVID-19 As we navigate the challenges of a global pandemic, there is heightened focus on site security, safety and tracing of employees and visitors. Minimizing physical contacts and creating a frictionless access control environment is a priority. In addition to optimizing lift operation and reducing waiting times, users are transported to their destination without having to engage with reception staff or concierge services. Cost savings Traditional access control and elevator integration used to mean each floor was hardwired to the elevator controlling device. Now, the destination controller is a catch-all for integration via API to the elevator server. And what this really delivers is an efficient throughput of the population within the building. Without the need to wire relays and inputs between the two systems, this high level integration significantly reduces overall installation and maintenance costs.  

  The Indian retail sector has now opened successfully after a long phase of the lockdown enforced due to the pandemic. There is an urgent need for safe reopening strategies, policy framework, and implementation plan with adequate smart public safety measures. As India’s vast retail sector is slowly and surely returning back to the pre-pandemic growth rate, there is a critical need for compliance and vigil. Retailers can’t afford to lower the guard even as the latest data shows the pandemic cases are lowest. Its time to rethink instore and online customer experience. As malls and stores are open across the country, retailers should keep in mind key considerations from a customer, associate, store, and operational perspective. Retail sector must prioritize the smart public safety measures while finding safe options to enhance the customer experience and engagement. Compliance with guidelines In the context of the Indian retail sector, retailers and retail managers need to work on risks and challenges to ensure compliance with guidelines. There are similar worries about compliance of social distancing and density control guidelines. Social distancing plays an important role in public safety measures related to preventing the spread of the pandemic. The recommended physical distancing guideline of maintaining a distance of a meter or more (3-6 feet) is a perpetual challenge for the retail managers and retail security personnel to follow. In addition, retail store managers also need to identify and mitigate areas where shoppers may congregate, so as to ensure safe shopping spaces. Technologies incorporating social distancing and occupancy detection can be put into places like these to assist the process. Hikvision’s Flow Control system utilizes highly accurate people counting technology. A clear, dynamic display and real-time alerts ensure pre-defined capacity thresholds are never exceeded, even in locations with multiple entrances and exits, such as, for example, shopping malls and supermarkets. A digital sign can be integrated at entrance areas to display real-time occupancy data. It can help in letting the customers know when it is safe to enter premises. In waiting areas such as cash counters in supermarkets and indoor ATMs in malls, Hikvision’s video security solution provides the necessary features and functionalities to assist with the process of social distancing. These technologies use people counting and 3D modelling to measure the distance between people accurately. Touch-free access control for hygienic authentication Retailers have to rethink traditional access control and time attendance systems such as ID card swiping, PIN codes, or fingerprint scans to ensure safety of the staff. With a touch-free access control terminals, organizations can not only eliminate the risk, but greatly enhance their daily operational efficiency. Hikvision’s MinMoe Face Recognition terminals can help in ensuring touch-free access control and time attendance for the organised retail establishments. Hikvision has developed a Smart Retail Solution that provides comprehensive video security to protect staff and customers and assist loss prevention. The Smart Retail Solution features data collection and analytics for enhancing business value. Benefiting from deep learning technology, three intelligent functions for retail support include people-counting to track customer traffic and volume, heat mapping to know the popularity of goods in the shopping area, and queue detection to monitor the queuing situation in real-time. People-counting Hikvision’s dual-lens people-counting camera provides accurate customer counting and generates customer flow trends to evaluate performance and strategic initiatives. The people counting data sets are useful for taking public safety measures in terms of social distancing and crowd flow density. By analyzing customer flow data, store management can optimise the allocation of the workforce to reach higher profits and ensure better customer service. Store managers can schedule staff strategically for peak and off-peak hours while ensuring compliance with norms to safeguard visitors, staff and customers. Heat mapping When customers enter the store, retailers are concerned about what merchandise customers are interested in. Before that, what’s more important is how to get what route they walk and where they stop. With Hikvision’s Heat Mapping function, retailers can determine the amount of time shoppers spend in specific areas of a store, identify hot spots and dead zones, and measure the number of people who actually shop for specific products, rather than just casually walk by. Heat Mapping is traditionally used to monitor and measure the size of target traffic in a region. It is a graphical representation of data represented by colors, and it is usually used to analyze the visit times and dwell times of customers in a specified area. The Heat Map offers customers’ preferences and insights. According to the latest best practices overcrowded areas in malls or retail stores are identified with help of Heat Mapping and get frequently sanitized. Hikvision’s Fisheye cameras, equipped with heat mapping function, not only capture a panoramic high-definition image, but also learn about heat conditions in different regions within a store. Queue detection Hikvision’s Queue Detection function can help retailers manage checkout lines while ensuring safety and security of customers. When too many customers enter a queue, it can notify management to open a new checkout line. More specifically, these queue detection cameras monitor the queuing situation in real-time and offer a quick solution. Hikvision Smart Retail Solution is designed to help retailers make their retail establishments safer and smarter, allowing data to support management and operations. And it will promote retailers’ technological transformation in response to increased challenges through the use of innovative retail technology to address key issues arising out of safety and security. Also Read:- Hikvision India Unveils Smart Boom Barrier Solutions for Easy Vehicle Access Control at Toll Plazas & Housing Complexes

Southeast Asia’s diverse mall scene offers unique shopping experiences for tourists as well as locals, with highend boutiques to one-of-a-kind night markets. Megabangna Shopping Centre (the Centre), located in Bangkok, is one of Thailand’s largest retail complexes. With 4 million square feet of space, over 840 retail shops, and parking for 10,000 vehicles, the Centre is the first shopping mall of its kind in the region – creating a unique security need. AVIGILON SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software Simplified screen layout, intuitive controls, and customizable features that enhance how security professionals interact with high-definition surveillance video. HD Multisensor cameras Flexible design can capture multiple angles of a scene, to maximize scene coverage and minimize blind spots. H4 Dome and H4 Bullet Cameras Available from 1 MP to 4K Ultra HD resolution, our H4 platform cameras provide excellent coverage for seeing activity in complete darkness, and are embedded with Avigilon self-learning video analytics. HDSM SmartCodec technology helps reduce bandwidth when viewing HD video. Network Video Recorder (NVR) A high-performance, high-cap With the motto ‘everything under one roof,’ the Centre quickly earned a reputation as the perfect place to spend the weekend with friends and family, or to pick up everyday household needs. As a result, excessive crowds pack the walkways and the mall’s 10,000 parking spots are regularly filled. Security needs for a cultural hub Given the complexity of the Centre facility, and the high foot and vehicle traffic acquired onsite, the security solutions in place needed to be reassessed. Commonly reported incidents at the mall included cars being vandalized or broken into while parked in on-site structures, and busy shoppers losing personal items throughout the mall grounds during their visit. By addressing gaps in coverage throughout the mall, the Centre’s security team knew that they could more easily track down lost items for distressed visitors, monitor suspicious activity, and in turn prove or disprove claims. The safety and security of customers – along with ensuring a great customer experience for every visit – are top priorities for the Centre. Implementing a comprehensive security system was also an important part of the Centre’s loss prevention strategy to save the company time and money. Mega mall, big solutions To enhance safety, the Centre, in partnership with security systems integrator Entech, deployed a complete Avigilon surveillance solution, including 500 cameras, which were installed throughout the mall and the parking lot to provide full coverage of open areas. Chosen camera models included Avigilon HD Multisensor, H4 Bullet and H4 Dome cameras. This combination directly addressed the Centre’s security team’s specific needs in their expansive area of coverage. H4 dome and H4 bullet cameras provide exceptional image quality in a range of different settings, while the HD multisensor camera has up to four cameras that cover up to 360 degrees of viewing range. These combined camera solutions help minimize blind spots, which allows the Centre’s security team to monitor important activity throughout the premises, both indoors and outside. The cameras are only half the solution for the Centre. The hub of the security solution is the Avigilon Control Centre (ACC) video management software. With advanced and fast video search features, the software enables security operators to quickly find and review surveillance footage, helping the Centre security team resolve thefts and similar claims at a higher rate than with the legacy solution. Benefitting security Professionals and shoppers The installation of Avigilon solutions took half the estimated length of time, making the transition easy for the Centre’s team from the start. Once installation was complete, ACC™ software further simplified things for the security team by allowing them to identify problematic situations with powerful and efficient software. When searching footage of areas with heavy foot traffic, the Centre’s security team was able to identify problems around the busy mall in record-breaking time. “Security operators are expected to turn around footage necessary to address a problem within 10 minutes,” said Miss Paphitchaya Suwandee, Megabangna Shopping Centre’s President. Since deploying ACC software, the Centre has shortened a process that at times could take hours or days – Avigilon’s easyto-use software helps them search footage in under 10 minutes, while saving effort and money during an investigation. Given this measurable success, the Centre recently expanded the use of Avigilon solutions into an additional parking structure. Today, the Avigilon solutions implemented help make the mall security team’s jobs easier and keep patrons safe.