Selling SMBs On IP Video

By Larry Chay, Small Business Program Manager, Axis Communications

If you thought IP video was too costly and too complex for SMBs, it’s time to take another look. With every new generation, IP video has become more powerful, more affordable and easier to use — making network video solutions a perfect fit even for SMBs with minimal technical know-how and limited budgets.

Why IP Video Is A Better Investment

Most buyers in the SMB arena only look at acquisition cost and fail to evaluate the cost of operation and maintenance. It’s up to you to change that value conversation. While an analog camera certainly costs less than an IP one, that’s like saying an abacus costs less than a calculator. An IP camera is an intelligent device that delivers additional value such as remote access through the network, advanced compression to minimize bandwidth consumption and built-in security features like motion detection. Plus, high-resolution IP cameras capture greater image detail and adhere to open standards which provide a way to future-proof your solution.

But cameras aren’t the only consideration in a video surveillance system. While IP cameras rely on off-the-shelf storage or in-camera memory cards, analog cameras are locked into proprietary DVR technology that typically fails within three to five years and needs replacement. In IP video systems customers can add cameras in any increment they choose, whereas analog system scalability is limited to the number of available ports on the DVR. IP cameras can piggyback on an SMB’s existing network (the one they already have for email, online banking, and other business activity), while analog cameras require long homeruns of expensive coax cable. IP cameras can even transmit video wirelessly via Wi-Fi when direct network connectivity isn’t available.