Making the case for Live View Technologies SaaS Model

To buy or to SaaS? That is the question.

For those unfamiliar with the acronym, SaaS stands for Software as a Service. It’s become an increasingly popular method of software delivery with developers who tout many advantages to the end user including ease of use and minimal administrative requirements. It has been adopted by Live View Technologies (LVT) to provide both service and equipment at a price point affordable for more users. It is in effect a rental, rather than a purchase, as LVT retains ownership of the physical trailers and provides it as part of the service.

One of the common challenges I hear when talking with potential customers about Live View Technology (LVT) mobile security units is that of ownership. Many large companies are rent averse, preferring to own what they use. When it comes to manually operated heavy machinery from backhoes to excavators, one manufactured in 1968 may run equally as well as one from 2015 provided it’s kept in good repair so it might make perfect sense to own one rather than rent it. When core functions and features are in constant flux however, ownership starts to lose its practicality.

When considering the purchase or subscription options for a mobile security unit, there are a couple of considerations. One is the expense and lifecycle of the hardware itself, and the other is the expense and lifecycle of the operating software package. The true value lies in the functionality and stability of their combination; a robust video management system (VMS) software package, such as the LVT Platform (the logical brain), and its inter-operability with the hardware including the Edge Controller (the physical brain) as well as the associated optical, IR, and thermal camera devices. So, the driving question is, will the time to recoup the initial expense of a purchase outpace advancements in both the hardware and software technologies? For that answer, you can look no further than your mobile device (aka cellphone) and see how rapidly new iterations, features, and patches are released. By the time you have it home and out of the box, an advertisement for the next gen is already filling the screen of your smart TV. Tech moves at the speed of light, and with new advancements in AI technology, perhaps even faster. The answer to this question is unequivocally, unlikely.

As you might have noticed, everything in the software industry is migrating towards a subscription model. That is, in part, because newer technologies have more demanding hardware and network requirements making it difficult for end users to keep up with these ever changing and increasing demands. Software we used to own, such as Microsoft Office (now Office 365) or Photoshop (now included the Adobe CC subscription), has become so power hungry that it’s more economically run on powerful servers with the real work being accomplished in the cloud, where resources can be shared, and complex tasks completed more efficiently. For those of you who still use older pre-cloud installations of MS-Excel, you might even notice that newer Dynamic Array formulas, such as spilled range references, won’t work. This new operational model also allows for these newer versions to be run on not only older computers, but even on smaller and less powerful smart devices such as cellphones and tablets. It is a win-win for both developers, in terms of recurring income streams, and users in terms of functionality, access, and ease of use. Due to the SaaS architecture, you can access video and even change settings for your LVT unit with only a smart phone anywhere in the world you have a data connection.

When you own something, you also take on the responsibility for repairs and maintenance, much of which rests with the owner. If a tire goes flat, you fix it. If an extended mast, or outrigger is inadvertently damaged or bent, you replace it. If hail damages your solar panels so they no longer work, you replace them. When the sealed AGM deep cycle batteries become too old and no longer hold a charge, you bear the replacement cost. The list can go on and on. In technological devices such as the LVT mobile unit, that also means making sure your surveillance software, which must be purchased or subscribed to separately, is correctly configured and remains compatible with updates and patches installed as soon as released, and any firmware updates installed. Advancements in software and hardware technology may require physical replacement of the Edge controller or cameras so that all components continue to work together. You will be responsible for the costs and upkeep of whatever network is used to communicates with the remote unit, whether that’s cabled, wireless, cellular, or satellite, and making sure that sufficient bandwidth is available to transmit the live video signal data over that network. Units are portable but moving them does require some backend adjustments to the programming. This can be substantial when several units are involved. Also, there is the cost burden taken on by your IT support personnel which will now have the additional workload.

If you desire video analytics in an owed system, these licenses will need to be purchased as well, but only if your surveillance software supports compatible versions. Video analytics are vital to real-time monitoring as well as preserving storage space for archived video data. When we’re talking analytics, we’re talking about the software’s ability to detect and react autonomously. Analytics included in the SaaS can detect motion within defined areas of the view and differentiate between people, animals, or vehicles, and generate alerts accordingly. On thermal cameras, analytics can detect and alert for temperature variations that indicate a person is present, or there may be a fire detected. ?When people are detected, the system can respond automatically by activating spotlights, strobe lights, or playing pre-recorded warnings over talk down speakers. The LVT Platform may also initiate automated video “patrols” which swivel and zoom to observe specific locations at pre-defined times or intervals. Live alerts are key to monitoring in a proactive response, although may not be as important if your goal is simply archiving video for forensic use, a reactionary approach to loss mitigation.

Lastly, if you own your system will you have a mobile app for that? Well… probably not, but LVT does.

LVT offers Mobile Security Units under the SaaS (Software as a Service) model, along the similar paths as Microsoft or Adobe mentioned previously. The powerful analytics within the LVT Platform VMS (video management system) runs as a Cloud application giving you the benefit of practically unlimited shared resources without having to bear the burden of expensive hardware. This is how LVT Platform access can be offered as a mobile app as well. This offers easy use and very minimal administration on the customer’s part with no IT support required. Software and patch management is automatic, ensuring that you are always running the most up to date deployment of software, and that all users have the same version software release. Lastly, the physical equipment remains the property of LVT while the data remains with the customers. LVT is responsible for maintaining and updating the unit as well as performing reasonable repairs at no cost to the user.

In a Purchase vs SaaS analysis that I assembled for one potential customer, the break-even point for purchasing didn’t arrive for 31 months. IMHO, by the time you start realizing an ROI on a purchase, the technology of your hardware or software will likely be outdated, perhaps both. Additionally, you may even need battery replacements which could extend that date even further.

Shaw 360, LLC, an authorized distributor of LVT Mobile Security Units located in Louisville, KY is also able to provide a value-added monitoring service. The SOC where monitoring takes place is equipped with powerful and redundant servers that provide operators with live video feeds through LVT’s cloud network and, through their command center software, receive immediate notification when specific alerts are triggered allowing them to quickly review and assess your situation and intervene if necessary. With careful preparation during the site set-up, LVT’s powerful analytics allow operators to monitor multiple sites simultaneously while still reacting promptly to active alerts. This resource sharing allows Shaw 360 to offer this service to you at a fraction of the cost of a full-time security officer with nearly equal benefit. As a comparative standard, the average cost of a full-time security officer is about $26 per hour. The cost of an LVT Mobile Security Unit is about $4 per hour including live monitoring during off hours.

To wrap up, I think my position on “To buy or to SaaS?” is clear, however I won’t assume to know what’s best in your situation. Whether you decide to purchase or subscribe to your LVT Mobile Security Unit is entirely your business choice. Whether you purchase or subscribe is a question best shared with administrative, tax, legal, and procurement leaders in your organization. Shaw 360, LLC will be happy to provide you with the proper equipment either through purchase or subscription, and get live monitoring set up, sometimes in as little as a day (depending on the unit’s location). If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the author, Bob Eppler at ?[email protected].?