Client security is important to Global Cargo Panama, a logistic services company based in the Colón Free Trade Zone that delivers logistical support for goods and warehousing services to businesses globally. While having a video system increases security, Global Cargo Panama's main objective was not to protect itself from a specific threat. Instead, the company's goal was to find a tool to help them offer their clients the peace of mind that their cargo is always secure.
The Panama Canal, along with its customs regulations, has positioned the country of Panama as a dominant player in cargo management. Notably, the Colón Free Trade Zone ranks as the world's second-largest free zone and holds the top position in the Western Hemisphere.
Global Cargo Panama
Mays Zona Libre occupies a huge three-story storage complex spanning 400,000 square metres
Within the Colón Free Trade Zone, the Mays Zona Libre company occupies a massive three-story warehouse complex spanning 400,000 square metres in an area known as France Field. The facility comprises six expansive warehouses. Global Cargo Panama manages one such warehouse.
“Global Cargo Panama contacted us a couple of years ago because they needed to monitor a 20,000-square-metre area of their warehouse with a system that would also allow them to extend their portfolio of services,” said Moshe Singer, General Manager of AST Group SA, the integration company for the project.
Open platform NVR manages wide array of cameras
To monitor the 20,000-square-metre storage space, AST Group strategically installed 21 network cameras from Arecont Vision throughout all three warehouse levels. Four AV3226PMIR MegaView 2 Series 3MP cameras were installed in the entrance; while three Arecont Vision AV8185DN 180° SurroundVideo cameras cover the loading and unloading bays. Eight Arecont Vision MegaView 2 Series 2MP cameras and six 360° SurroundVideo Omni cameras cover the central parts of the warehouse.
Live video from the 21 cameras feeds into a Milestone Husky NVR, which stores the data for up to three months. Once the video is archived on the server, Milestone Systems XProtect® video management software can generate a list of users with permission to view specific images.
Optimise logistics and security
Global Cargo staff uses the system to optimise logistics and guard with camera and sign status alerts
"The software allows Global Cargo to send its customers a link with their respective username and password to verify their cargo. Then, from a computer or a mobile device, the user can check the status of their cargo and can see when the cargo entered the warehouse, by which door, and if it has been moved, among other details," explained Singer. The Global Cargo staff also uses the system to optimise logistics and security with camera and motion status alerts delivered to their smartphones. According to the AST Group, once the system was ready, the personnel in charge of the system received extensive training.
"The goal at the time was to emphasise the importance of the interactive training videos that Milestone offers on its website so that the staff could refresh their knowledge of the characteristics of the management software whenever they needed to," said Singer.
New services enabled by video visibility
With the implementation of this new technology, Global Cargo Panama can offer its clients real-time information on how and when their merchandise is loaded, unloaded, stored, and delivered. The company now also has the capability of adding services to the process chain in the same warehouse—for example, the services of packaging, labelling, and clothing manufacturing, among others.
"If a client pays for one of these services, they can verify in real-time how many people were assigned to the job, how much space was used, and how many hours it took to complete, as well as the general handling of the merchandise. This generates trust between both parties and serves as a way for customers to corroborate their investment," added Singer.
Milestone XProtect Mobile application
It is key to note that Milestone technology operates with camera licences, not video streams. "This is important," explained Singer. "With Milestone, we can use multi-sensor cameras with four views with a single licence, which allows us to offer several options to the client in terms of costs because the visuals are linked to the capacity of the equipment, but not for the payment of a licence."
Additionally, AST Group made a licence available for the Milestone XProtect Mobile application
Additionally, AST Group made a licence available for the Milestone XProtect Mobile application. This application allows users to record video from the device and send it directly to the Milestone server, making that video accessible to the user with the corresponding permission. “Not everything can be seen with the (mounted) cameras. If an operator opens a container and observes that the goods are damaged or in poor condition, you can take a video of it with Milestone Mobile, which gives the company real-time proof of the condition of the merchandise when it arrived at the warehouse,” said Singer.
Exploring additional video analytics
After the project was launched, Global Cargo and Mays Zona Libre have shown interest in applying these solutions to other warehouse areas. "The fact that Husky (that can manage up to 180 cameras) still has additional capacity has motivated the client to expand the system, this time to cover specific security issues," said Singer. They are considering using analytics such as licence plate recognition, which is very useful for container analysis and tracking, streamlining traffic flow within the complex, locating cargo, and counting and accessing cargo trucks.
"These technologies allow the client to grow at their own pace. If they (clients) want, it is possible to expand and put everything in a Husky. Also, each company within the complex can manage its system independently. These flexible solutions allow me to tell the client that we can grow the way they want," added Singer.
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