Andy Martin

Innovating for a smarter, safer world, industry leaders from Axis highlight the latest trends in surveillance and analytics technology. Ranging from cybersecurity and IoT audio products in retail, to new radar detection technology and access control, the innovations on show are substantial Industry leaders including Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, have taken to the floor at IFSEC 2017 to discuss how innovative security and intelligent IoT devices have the power to transform security and safety levels, as well as increase operational efficiencies for business success. In a video of news and views directly from the event, Martin Gren, Co-Founder of Axis and IFSEC’s top influencer of the security industry for 2017, was on hand alongside Axis experts, exploring: The importance of audio Internet of Things (IoT) technology within retail environments Axis’ push for greater cybersecurity expertise among its partner network The addition of analytics in retail contributing to the rise of the intelligent high street Axis’ access control integration with HID Global and SimonsVoss New radar detection technology to provide high-end perimeter security Innovations that address the key challenges of our time Martin Gren, Co-Founder of Axis Communications, states, “It’s a great pleasure to be voted as the leading influencer in the security industry for pioneering work in driving video surveillance from analogue to IP. Of course, we aren’t standing still and we continue to innovate for the future, driving towards an increasingly connected world. We have some great new technologies that can be integrated with security systems – horn speakers, IP door stations and even radar detection. Alongside our smart Zipstream compression, Axis’ radar detection is one of the most interesting new offerings on show.” Collaboration to ensure cybersecurity "When it comes to applying best practice to networks or security systems, there’s a gap in the cybersecurity market which Axis and its partners are directly addressing" Atul Rajput, Regional Director for Northern Europe, highlighted the scope and challenges of cybersecurity within the industry, stating, “We saw the Mirai botnet last year, and more recently the WannaCrypt ransomware. In the security industry, we have tremendous risk management expertise in relation to people, property, and assets. When it comes to applying best practice to networks or security systems, there’s a gap in the cybersecurity market which Axis and its partners are directly addressing.” “We have been extending IoT capabilities from video to audio, and these products are some of the solutions we’re most looking forward to showcasing at IFSEC this year. The ability for retailers to have a camera looking at a queue, then sounding an alert should that queue reach a certain size, really highlights the potential of synergistic IoT technology in retail.” Integrated analytics and the intelligent high street Andy Martin, Business Development Manager, Retail, confirmed, “The intelligent high street is about using the IP platform to connect new devices, giving it functionality for marketing, operations and sales departments, and of course security and loss prevention specialists. It not only includes connecting devices like tagging systems and Point of Sale, but also adding analytics to increase the value added. Real-time analytics can help retail specialists know how to respond to the number of people within, or the way people are behaving, in a store. Through analytics, retailers can start to change and flex their labour.” IoT access control Speaking on Axis’ latest innovations in the access control sphere, John Allen, Business Development Manager, Access Control, noted, “What we’re showing here is a combination of access control linked to audio and outdoor management solutions, to try and give visitors an idea of how we can deliver a solution to their taste, not to our product requirements. The two most important things we’re highlighting are our collaborations with HID Global and SimonsVoss, showcasing mobile access and wireless locking – there’s a fantastic demonstration available that’s been very popular.”

Axis' study on retail CCTV usersrevealed a demand for quality imagesand remote monitoring capabilities Axis Communications, global market leaders in network video and experts in retail technologies, are to attend the Retail Business Technology Expo 2016 in London in March. Retail CCTV solutions The team from Axis will be at stand number 330 at the show which is being held from 9th to 10th March 2016 at Olympia, London. Axis is a leading expert on retail surveillance and every year produces an independent study carried out by the Centre for Retail Research, Nottingham, (or CRR). This reveals the use and future intentions of retail CCTV users in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the UK and the latest report has revealed: 65% retailers want a system that supports POS fraud reduction strategies 70% want to access their stores remotely 59% see customer insight analytics as a key driver towards network video According to Axis the quality of image is vital to retailers. They want high quality images available remotely that both help them prevent stock loss and also better understand customer behaviour so they can maximise sales. Axis works closely with partners in 179 countries delivering leading solutions to customers all over the world. Since its outset, Axis has worked through an indirect sales model – selling to distributors who then sell on to system integrators and resellers who, in turn, sell to end customers. This means everyone works with specialist competencies at every stage, from distribution to installation, giving end customers the very best of the best. Incorporating open IP standards Axis provides a complete range of solutions, whether customers need a smart system for basic surveillance or a more advanced system for security on a larger scale. The Axis video surveillance solution for small systems is made up of cameras, SD cards, AXIS Camera Companion and mobile viewing apps. And for large or complex sites, they can be kept safe with an advanced security and surveillance solution based on Axis’ open IP products. Combined with hardware and software from the wide range of Axis partners, customers can create a customized or specialised solution that meets business and operational needs All of the systems are easy to install, and everything is designed with open IP standards that easily connect with existing IT infrastructure. Andy Martin, Axis Retail Business Development Manager, said: “We have worked hard this year to strengthen the partnerships with integrators and software developers to provide retailers with the very best solutions available and will feature small footprint and enterprise solutions on the stand this year. “There will be something for every type of retailer and applications that are cross functional. From POS fraud reduction and intruder verification through to customer insight and age and gender recognition, Axis is at the forefront of driving value from network video in retail and look forward to seeing the many different retail stakeholders that attend RBTE.” Cameras on display at the show will be: AXIS P3225 with Zipstream and Wide Dynamic Range technology  AXIS Q3505 with Facial Recognition (intelligent video app) AXIS M series cameras that are flexible, scalable and represent good value for money 

The study sharply highlighted the industry’s increasing reliance on CCTV to control stock loss According to the latest annual Centre for Retail Research (CRR) survey into the use of CCTV in retail – commissioned by Axis Communications, the global market leader in network video – 70% of retailers want to introduce covert CCTV and 66% are planning to move to mobile data access in the near future. Reducing losses The report, which was carried out in July and August of this year (2015), showed that 58.5% of retailers currently use covert CCTV but that 70.1% of those not using covert CCTV want to start using it in the future, and that only 17.6% of retailers are currently able to access live recorded footage but 66% aspire to use mobile access. The study sharply highlighted the industry’s increasing reliance on CCTV to control stock loss and a demand amongst retailers for higher image quality, even more reliable systems and easy and flexible access to images. A significant 82.7% of retailers said that CCTV reduces losses and 29.7% of retailers are now using fraud analytics to help improve their security with 58.7% planning to in the future. Andy Martin, Business Development Manager Retail, Northern Europe for Axis said: “The clear and demonstrable return on investment through shrinkage reduction is a huge driving force for IPCCTV implementation. But retailers are not content with just that – they want even higher quality images that they can access easily through mobile technology, and in 29.7% of cases, they want better customer insights such as age and gender analytics and other IP applications such as people counting, queue management and dwell time.” Harnessing IP technology potential The report also revealed there is still a 66% majority of the market that is operating on analogue technology proving that installers and integrators still have an opportunity to create awareness among retailers of the benefits of IP technology. Andy said “Yes IP is increasing and we saw that trend clearly last year and this, particularly among bigger organisations - 62.7% of retailer chains that have adopted IP have 100 stores or more. But there is still a community of retailers who have yet to be convinced of the true potential of IP technology. We are working hard with our channel partners to bridge that gap and provide the best advice about the products and solutions that are already delivering excellent results for many retailers.” Surveying small and big retailers Interest in cloud storage has increased by 30% and public view monitors are being used mainly to deter crime in 51.4% of cases with 21.8% of retailers placing them only at store entrances. The ‘CCTV in Retail’ survey was commissioned by global market leader in network video, Axis Communications and was run in conjunction with the Centre for Retail Research in Nottingham. Now in its fifth year, it surveyed 2,200 retailers both large and small from a wide variety of sectors and attracted 664 responses from retailers in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The research was carried out by the CRR between July and August 2015 and follows similar Axis-commissioned surveys in 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

An average of 31% of retailers said that integration with business intelligence applications their main driver for adopting network IP According to the latest annual Centre for Retail Research (CRR) survey into the use of CCTV in retail – commissioned by Axis Communications, the global market leader in network video – over a quarter (27%) of UK retailers cite ‘integration with business intelligence applications’ as the main reason for adoption of network IP for the third year running. Similarly, across northern Europe, an average of 31% of retailers said that integration with business intelligence applications was their main driver for adopting network IP, peaking at 35% in Denmark. Of the 278 UK retailers that responded, encompassing some 20,350 stores, the data showed that 92.8% currently use CCTV with over 60% of these are planning to convert to network IP technology. ‘Quality of Image’ saw the biggest increase in priority with a 40% increase in UK respondents naming it as the most important factor when migrating to network IP. Other major drivers for the adoption of IP technology included: ‘better remote access’ (18%), ‘scalability’ (16%) and ‘reduced total cost of ownership’ (12%) – all showing an average increase compared to last year’s survey. Shift from analogue CCTV to network IP Commenting on the results, Andy Martin, retail business development manager, Axis Communications, said: “The migration from analogue CCTV to network IP continues to be of huge importance to the retail industry and will be the biggest single factor impacting on retail security as digital surveillance and network video become the standard. “The UK High Street is still the origin of the bulk of retail transactions, but unfortunately stores also carry the highest overheads, so the need to ‘sweat the assets’ is vital with surveillance systems being no exception. This is where network IP really has the advantage as it can be used to improve both service and sales, not just security, to deliver a real return on investment. “Operating on increasingly smaller margins, reducing costs are a key priority for retailers. While IP-based video “Operating on increasingly smaller margins, reducing costs are a key priority for retailers" surveillance does make a noticeable improvement in the top line and revolutionised loss prevention, the long-term aim of superior image quality should be for lowering total cost of ownership, as it enhances detection and improves forensic investigation. “I see retailers’ use of business analytics and intelligence applications continuing to mushroom in line with cloud computing and big data. With network cameras’ capability to provide higher resolution video and be connected from everywhere 24 hours a day, retailers are receiving more data from more sources. Business intelligence applications are needed to help them manage this huge amount of information, such as images and videos, and to help them interpret it into something useful. “As network video is an open platform solution, it can seamlessly allow integration with emerging technologies and therefore, transforms the surveillance camera from a forensic tool aimed at solving problems to a proactive tool designed to optimise business processes and reduce cost. This is clearly evident from the survey as nearly half of the UK retailers polled stated that queue management (49.9%) and people counting (49.2%) were the two most important non-security network IP applications that most interested them.” Highlights of the survey Professor Joshua Bamfield, director at CRR added: “The survey clearly highlights the continued move towards IP-based camera systems across the retail sector, a growing trend that is driven by the need for HD-quality images and the increased adoption and use of business-focussed analytics - two areas where IP systems demonstrate a clear advantage over older technologies. It further suggests that retailers continue to appreciate the added benefits that an IP-based system can deliver which is evident in the high convergence rate each year.” “The survey clearly highlights the continued move towards IP-based camera systems across the retail sector" Andy concluded: “Customer theft is still the biggest security challenge facing retailers at the moment, as nearly a quarter (24.2%) said that their main reason for using CCTV is to prevent or investigate theft and a huge 80% of respondents cited prevention of internal or external theft and better safety as the main driver for the use of CCTV, seeing and average fall in loss of 15%. “As a whole, the UK has embraced the benefits that CCTV can bring and this is especially true of the retail sector. Certainly for the UK, I believe that the migration to network IP has become the norm and it is no longer a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ the technology will be adopted.” The ‘CCTV in Retail’ survey was commissioned by global market leader in network video, Axis Communications and was run in conjunction with the Centre for Retail Research in Nottingham. Now in its fourth year, it surveyed 2,200 retailers both large and small from a wide variety of sectors and attracted 673 responses from retailers in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The research was carried out by the CRR between July and August 2014 and follows similar Axis-commissioned surveys in 2013, 2012 and 2010. Axis Communications, along with its partners Cognimatics and Prism, will be exhibiting at stand 330 at this year’s Retail Business Technology Expo (RBTE) in London. Experts will be on hand to discuss how network video solutions can provide retailers with a whole new set of future proof tools that enable: More effective and accurate loss prevention Improved merchandising Optimised store operations Improved customer experience.