Openpath’s Video Reader Signals A New Wave Of Innovation Around Video Analytics In Building Security

Openpath’s Video Reader Signals A New Wave Of Innovation Around Video Analytics In Building Security

In June 2021, access control vendor Openpath launched a new door entry reader as part of its hardware product line. The video reader is designed to be implemented on doors that require access control, as part of the building’s wider security system. By offering built-in camera functionality, the reader enables building managers and security teams to view door entry events at head height. This helps firms overcome challenges with existing video surveillance systems that are mounted at a more elevated level, making it difficult to identify suspicious or potentially dangerous individuals. Moreover, by having the video feed integrated into the reader itself, security teams can easily link a specific security incident, such as tailgating or forced entry, to the culprit, quickly finding the relevant images. The security alert and images can also be sent via mobile to security teams on the ground to support their response.

Openpath’s video reader is agnostic, sitting on top of existing door controller systems without the need to rip and replace incumbent solutions. The reader also operates on open standards, enabling the video feed to be integrated into dedicated video management systems and augmenting the surveillance coverage these solutions provide. Openpath’s move to incorporate video into its access control capabilities highlights how video analytics is becoming a standout feature of security solutions. The ability to track and monitor movements and incidents related to security accurately and in real-time delivers significant value to customers.

Openpath’s new product is part of a broader trend where smart building vendors are launching increasingly sophisticated video analytics solutions. For example, Brivo’s security platform permits users to manage access control, visitors and view video feeds through one interface, whilst Siemens’ security offering includes remote security management, video monitoring and analytics, and biometric access capabilities. Such solutions enable users to swiftly identify and resolve incidents, rather than manually searching through hours of video footage on legacy video monitoring systems. Given the efficiency benefits of video analytics, we anticipate fast adoption of these solutions over the next five years in private offices and campuses. However, implementation in public spaces is likely to be slower, with push-back against video analytics and potential facial recognition capabilities on the grounds of privacy intrusion.

To learn more about other current trends in the smart building market, please see Verdantix 10 Predictions For Smart Building Technology In 2021 And Beyond.