 EDITOR'S NOTE
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Nick Mitsis
September 1, 2006
Recently, during a flooding episode, a business owner was able to document the damage through video surveillance. The camera captured rising floodwaters destroying inventory, office furniture, files and proprietary information that crippled business operations.
Today, surveillance equipment not only assists during times of crisis, but also can protect day-to-day operations. A broadband satellite-based, video-surveillance system can link remote sites to headquarters, regardless of location. Such a system can help deter theft by customers and employees as well as attempted robberies and burglaries.
For example, Allsup’s convenience store chain installed such a system in 2004, linking 300 locations throughout New Mexico and West Texas. In-store theft and burglaries are problems the convenience store industry has been struggling with for many years and potentially cost companies millions of dollars a year. They expect this new satellite-based system to provide a strong return on investment by offering real-time monitoring that can greatly improve the shop owner’s ability to deter in-store criminal activity.
In addition to using the satellite-enabled broadband connection for anti-theft surveillance, the company capitalized on its investment by using the network for point-of-sale data applications such as fast credit card authorization and pay-at-the-pump services. In fact, such a platform supports a wide range of business applications, including in-store licensed music, distance learning, content multicasting and secure private networking services. Likewise, all of these applications can be bundled with surveillance through a single, compact remote access device incorporating advanced networking and routing functionality.
What is important to note is that such technology has a significant advantage versus conventional video systems that depend upon various terrestrial networking connections. When and if a situation occurs where traditional connectivity fails, this satellite-enabled system will remain operational. With most terrestrial connectivity options, companies face a significant challenge maintaining regional operations and communications, let alone video monitoring. Now, all of those applications can happen from one central location.
By fusing a satellite-enabled network with video applications, this partnership enhances the array of surveillance capabilities and provides company executives the ability to further take advantage of the initial investment put forth toward integrating a satellite-enabled platform.
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