Over the last several years IP based cameras and recorders have made their way to the forefront of the security industry. While Analog is still the mainstream choice for many customers, selling four-to-one over IP, there is no denying the impact that IP security has made on industry manufactures, vendors, resellers, and consumers.

When introducing IP security systems to a customer there are several factors to consider. Some consumers may become hesitant when a side by side comparison is done between IP and Analog. This may be caused by the dramatic increase in price associated with IP as opposed to the economically friendly cost of Analog equipment. Consumers look for several things when they plan to purchase an item. For instance, when a consumer purchases a car they have several things to consider. Does it fit my needs? What about gas mileage? What about storage room, or engine size, or even how many cup holders it has? While the consumer is asking their own questions, it is important as the salesman to ask questions too. Trying to sell a family of seven a little red sports car wouldn’t be practical, instead, the clear option would be a minivan or SUV. The same evaluation applies when comparing IP to Analog.

Once you know the consumer’s situation, finding the right products for their particular need becomes easier. IP video is often perceived as expensive, hard to integrate, and far too laborious. However, Analog is thought to be simple to install and relatively easy to operate. Educating your customer about the misconceptions of these two security camera types is important. As new as IP technology is, most customers aren’t going to see the benefits of switching to this product unless you can show them.

Often in the security industry we here the term ROI or return on investment. ROI is important to consumers because they want to know that the money they’ve spent on an IP video system is going to make its way back around to them. There are many benefits that come with transitioning to IP security cameras. Some of those benefits include better image quality, a longer product life span, and generally less expenses to maintain the equipment.

Think of yourself as a General Manager opening a brand new office building. Office buildings typically have large network layouts, which could require miles of cabling for power and video when using Analog cameras. However, in the same building an IP video system using IP security cameras could tap into the wired or wireless network almost anywhere in the office without the need for additional cables. In fact, as an alternative for powering IP security cameras, Ethernet cables can be used for PoE (Power over Ethernet) enabled cameras. The potential result can cut massive dollar amounts off the total equipment and labor costs, which is a financial and efficiency benefit to your customer. Ultimately, IP security isn’t for all consumers, but it is a viable solution that can be applied to many security situations.

Author Bio: Nathan Weaver is a security sales and integration expert working for ApexCCTV. He enjoys sharing his knowledge about security cameras, DVRs, and CCTV accessories with others.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: Security, CCTV, Cameras, DVRs, IP, Networking, Wireless, Surveillance, Systems, NVRs