London, United Kingdom - 13 Dec 2018

As the video surveillance industry continues its transition toward IP camera systems with edge and on-device analytics capabilities, solution providers continue to offer connected products and services with vastly stronger value propositions than traditional, legacy analog systems. As a result, ABI Research, a market-foresight advisory firm providing strategic guidance on the most compelling transformative technologies forecasts that enterprise video surveillance camera connections will top 348 million by 2023 and that these systems will generate value-added services revenues of US$12 billion.

"Success within IoT is largely dependent on the ability of providers to create highly specialized, value-added solutions based upon clearly defined use cases supported by market demand,” said Ryan Harbison, Research Analyst at ABI Research. “More than in most other industries, video surveillance providers understand the value that this digital transformation can have on end-user experience and have largely focused on crafting end-to-end surveillance solutions that include everything from device components to analytics and professional services including creation of Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) business models."

The VSaaS model was largely borne out of the need for providers to find new revenue opportunities as competition from Chinese camera manufacturers such as Hikvision and Dahua were driving down hardware profit margins. Additionally, providers realized there was substantial value in integrating video surveillance systems with other surveillance systems such as access control and intruder alarms. Solution providers such as Dell EMC, Pelco, and Genetec offer extensive professional services in the form of systems integration, device installation, and customized end-user solutions. These services are critical across all deployments, and as a result, video surveillance professional services will generate worldwide revenues of US$10 billion in 2023.

In the United States, there are additional opportunities for non-Chinese providers due to the U.S. government’s recent ban on video surveillance equipment from Chinese OEMs. Companies such as Dell EMC and Pelco can utilize their extensive professional services offerings to help U.S. entities and enterprises transition away from their existing Chinese-banned equipment to compliant systems.

“While a lot of attention in the video surveillance industry is on China’s camera equipment manufacturers, providers need to realize that for the most part, China buys China. In the short-term, providers should be focused on the U.S. market not only replacing Chinese OEM equipment but also identifying and selling solution services. By focusing on the right solutions with the right value-added services to the right markets, video surveillance solution providers can maximize the opportunity in this competitive market,” Harbison concluded.

These findings are from ABI Research’s Connected Enterprise Video Surveillance Solutions report. This report is part of the company’s IoT, IoE & M2M research service, which includes research, data, and Executive Foresights.