Panasonic opened their new business solutions centre at their European Headquarters in Bracknell today, the latest big-money investment by a tech company positioning themselves as a fully-integrated business solutions provider.
The new business solutions centre showcases the latest technology that Panasonic can offer their business customers. Think Apple Store for a senior buyer from McDonalds or DHL, and you start to get the idea of what’s on offer.
Click here to view Figure 1.
Despite the seemingly vast size of Panasonic’s consumer business (for which they are undoubtedly better known), Panasonic’s 7.3 billion Yen turnover is mostly made up of business-to-business revenue: 72 percent of their turnover is in the B2B market, in fact. This seems surprising, but when you stop and look at some of the projects that they’re capable of delivering — last summer’s London 2012 Olympics still being their best case study — it starts to make sense.
From the Lumix cameras used by newspaper photographers, to the 4,000 broadcast cameras recording Olympic events in 3D for the first time, right through to the 45 giant screens and (more relevantly) 2,500 video surveillance camera systems, as official technology supplier, Panasonic took care of almost all of the technology solutions at London 2012.
So, what has all this got to do with security technology? Well, at IFSEC International, the most noticeable trend was the trend towards the biggest manufacturers positioning themselves as solutions providers — not simply product manufacturers. Panasonic’s London 2012 case study is the ultimate example of a complete project management solution. And the business solutions centre is a place where customers can go and devise new strategies and new ideas that Panasonic will happily go away and produce.
Crucially, they don’t simply provide their customers with the latest products from their 15,000-strong product lineup, they also focus on integration support with third party products and services. A facilities manager can go to Panasonic and ask for a fully-integrated fire and security system all based on an IP network, and Panasonic will not only engineer and design the system, but will continually project manage that solution, completing the circle between product and service delivery.
One technological solution
IP is also a crucial piece of the Panasonic jigsaw. The managing director of Panasonic Europe explained that the philosophy of the business is for all of their products to be designed, developed, and delivered with “the same core IP technology. One company, one technological solution.” So, while Panasonic’s business solutions department may seem to be ratcheted into separate business units — with security cameras sitting alongside industrial medical vision, broadcast products in the professional camera solutions section, and visual and communications solutions and computer products sitting alongside that — there is a centralized IP philosophy sitting across all of the products and solutions.
The goal is to create an environment where all products are internet-enabled for the cloud era and connected to customers.
This might sound like your typical marketing spiel, but the solutions-based approach that Panasonic and its competitors are taking is signalling a real shift in security technology. When is a security camera not a security camera? When it’s synced with a point of sale system in a McDonalds restaurant to link fraudulent transactions to a customer’s image. Or, when it’s recognizing a person standing in front of a touch screen as a woman, and displaying a different set of advertising than if it was a man. Or, how about when it’s tracking a package in a logistics centre?
The possibilities of video surveillance as more than just video surveillance have been bubbling around for some time now, but as the technology of video management systems has improved, and the functionality has become more customizable and useful in the real world beyond security, we are now really beginning to see security technology coming of age, and proving its value to the business that invests in it.
Many people tire of marketing from major manufacturers, but what makes this new business solutions centre valuable is that it’s a space where people can come to talk about the possibilities of technology, and come up with new ideas. I spoke to Salman Jawaid from Panasonic’s POS technology department, and he told me how one customer said, “I want to see what Panasonic can do, but I don’t want to see a powerpoint.”
The end of death-by-powerpoint? I think that’s something we can all raise a glass to.
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@Robert Brown
This is very fascinating to know that technology giants like Panasonic are developing such advanced CCTV. I will be going to Backnell centre to witness things for myself
It’s a great place if you want to know the possibilities of technology (generally) for your business, not just in increasing security but performance.
Sure I will, I think it will be added benefit for every business
You’re right, this is an interesting trend and one worth watching. I’m seeing the same from other electronics companies who are blurring the line between consumer and enterprise products as well as converging technologies. I think a company like Panasonic blending security cameras with consumer products has potential for some cool features many of us have been waiting for.
Interesting to note the stat about Pansonic’s business being 72% B2B to see how really this is about blending their B2B products.
@Robert Brown: The importance of a security camera is high when we do not know whether its been installed or not. If we do not know then the normal behavioral patter can be monitored easily.
Yes we do a lot of business with Panasonic, not on the security side but on other commercial products. Some times you get backed into that corner where you really wish some of the attention given to consumer products would bleed over to the commercial side and I think this is a step in that direction.
@N De Silva – I think security cameras need to be hidden to capture natural behavior of individuals. When they know a security camera is installed they behave differently.
@Robert Brown – I think the quality of their products are good and is one good reason they earn good money. I have heard their aftersales and technical support better than most of the other manufacturers.
@Mike Clauss – Most individuals don’t have the knowledge and requirement to have a CCTV setup at their residence. I think this is a the reason why Panasonic has concentrated on providing solutions for businesses.
I see more camera systems going into residences now than I’ve ever seen in the past. Part of the drive is simple wireless cameras and good enough software packaged with those cameras. It might not be a solution you would roll out to monitor the shipping/receiving doors in your warehouse space but it’s good enough for those people who just want a little piece of mind. What I’m hoping for though is a blend of the consumer side or simple wireless cameras and the professional side. I recently installed a dozen cameras in the parking lots around our building. Let… Read more »
@Shehan Ahamed: Yes that is exactly my worry is. I feel that if you know that you are being watched, then you will obviously find something else to cover you. Best would be to have a secret camera installed.
@ safeNsane
I agree this is an interesting trend. I think it is great that security cameras can be used in conjunction with product placement, etc.
@ Rob
72% B2B is an interesting statistic. It makes sense for Panasonic to find innovative ways to blend their products.
@ Shehan
That is a good point, many times people do behave differently when they know they are on camera. But, then again, these days people are getting so used to security cameras in stores and other pulic places that they don’t really pay attention to them. It’s not the same as when a friend or relative is following you around at a party with the trusty old camcorder. 😉
@ Shehan
Depending on where you live you might see it more or less in residential settings. CCTV is becoming more popular in residences in the area where I live because of the alarming rate of home invasions. We installed cameras around our home a few years ago after returning from a weekend camping trip to find our home had been robbed and everything of value was taken. Even after moving to a more secure neighborhood in the suburbs we kept our cameras installed just for peace of mind.
@ safeNsane
“Let me say that if you’ve never done this you’re in for a learning experience when you try to decide how best to get signal back to your monitoring/recording solution.”
You are not kidding! Our system isn’t a high dollar top-of-the-line system by any means, since its just for our home but finding the right place to set up our monitor to get a clear signal was a real pain in the neck!
In the consumer world the good news is that the cameras as setup to to make the wireless connection on their own. The commercial side you have to add wireless solutions to wired IP cameras. Then you have to do the back haul. The good news is that the radio equipment is good so once you have that figured out pushing the signal isn’t so bad as long as you’re not shooting through trees in really bad places.
@ safeNsane
I noticed that was the biggest obstacle with my home security cameras…the more walls, trees etc. between the wireless cameras and the monitoring station, the more difficult it was to get a good signal. I have also noticed that different weather and different times of the day also affect my signal. Fortunately in the evening my signal is usually pretty clear, and that is when I am most concerned about being able to have a good recording since we are usually active around the property during the daytime.
yes, you are right, but event with new technology, for now hard wired security camera is an option for me… but I’m old school.
could not agree more, with your point… also few weeks ago I came across hobist solution so to say Security Camera attachment to the Raspberry Pi creating small security solution in the small micro box… but a lot of the work need to be done before mainstream… but technology changing…
I’m going to have to look into that Raspberry Pi solution, anything that moves video to an easier to manage solution is worth a look. Especially open source tools since the consumer end of security solutions were typically locked into Active X for viewing a stream until very recently and it’s always an adventure mixing cameras and trying to get a single system to capture and record from them.
Raspberry Pi solution is interesting solution, but it in development as they just create the security camera add on and e.t. but it works 🙂 for now 🙂 as long as you willing to figure it out step by step 🙂 so to say…
I would say this is true for most people. This brings up the point that security cameras are huge deterrents, since people normally wouldn’t do stuff if they know they’re being recorded or that they can be identified for doing it later on.
Interesting, Batye, thanks for sharing. I know there are so many potential things you can do with Raspberry Pi, and I didn’t know this was one of them!
Hard-wire cameras are the options for me as well. I considered the other alternatives that are currently available as well, and while there are many benefits of, let’s say, wireless that I also appreciate, I’m a bit old school like Batye here is, too.
The conveniences of wireless seem to be quickly negated by the setup and the location. :-/ I think foliage adds to making the cameras more discrete, but yes, they do interfere with the signal sometimes.
The sight of a camera might stop some people but I know for experience that even having a camera directly over someone’s work space and watching them all day doesn’t stop them from doing things like stealing parts off of a shelf or sleeping. Some people just don’t care or assume they are good enough that even a camera won’t catch them and if it does see them that they can talk their way out of it or will be able to deny it was them.
yes, as security camera technology changing, but I still like old style wired setup…
@ ITs_Hazel
You’re right, for the most part camera’s are a great crime deterrent. Then again, the average people aren’t going to be doing anything illegal anyway.There will always be the “village idiot” who thinks he can get away with it right in front of the camera.
@ safeNsane
I agree with your point, and I have also witnessed this in the workplace. A person caught red handed stealing from the dark room and he really tried to say that it wasn’t him in the video. He was the only guy at the company with a strong resemblance to Ronald McDonald. 😉
@ ITs_Hazel
Yes, camera placement plays a big part in the quality of wireless systems. I am sure the receprion is better with higher quality systems than what I get with the system I use for my home security.