Networking around the world

The store has upgraded from analogue to modern digital surveillance using Milestone XProtect software. IP video images are being integrated with transaction data to give monitoring and analysis of retail activities, resulting in control of shrinkage and reduced errors at cash registers.

The IKEA Pilot Store has increased the capabilities of its general surveillance by moving it to a pure digital platform, and added integration with its back office transaction system to control shrinkage and reduce errors at the cash registers. The solution also gives them new IP video tools for their global corporate education facilities. Milestone XProtect software allows a flexible mix of hardware for different location needs, and will allow integration with more systems in future, such as customer counting for better queue management.

Xprotect Retail software operates a mix of Axis and Sony network cameras combined with various analog cameras converted to digital images through Axis servers, all running on Windows XP.

The software has an intelligent interface that combines the data from the store’s transactions with the corresponding video images for fast searching and analysis by transaction ID, item number, cash register, time, date, purchase amount, employee, etc.

Ikea can sort by any category or type they choose, including scoring employees on performance.

Future plans include additional integration with a people-counting system that monitors the number of customers entering and leaving the store.

Next year the store will expand to 32,500 square meters including special areas for testing customer reactions to the IKEA concept. The IP video approach will allow new cameras to be added easily. Ikea has 203 stores in 32 countries.

Danes take the trains
Denmark’s state rail operator has chosen network video from Verint Systems to improve passenger security.

DSB transports 700,000 passengers each working day across Copenhagen’s rail network. To improve customer safety and service it is implementing Verint’s Mobile Networked Video Solution in train cars on certain portions of the railway system. This will enable onboard rail operations personnel to monitor activities to help prevent crime and create a safe environment for passengers and employees.

Verint’s solutions enable government and commercial organisations to enhance security by networking video across multiple locations and applying content analytics to extract intelligence from live and stored video.

USA honour
Axis Communications has received the prestigious “Ingram Micro Award of Excellence in the Emerging Solutions Arena”. Leading technology distributor, Ingram Micro, awarded Axis the honour for its network video solutions.

Vice President of Ingram Micro, Paul Bay, said: “Maintaining strong relationships with partners like Axis ensures we remain in the forefront of the global technology marketplace.”

Under London
Verint’s Networked Video Solution has been selected by Metronet Rail to increase security on the London Underground.

The Verint solution will be deployed across selected rail lines and will monitor passenger platforms and certain remote portions of the track. The company was selected after an extensive evaluation which included pilot schemes at several rail locations.