Key Factors to Consider for VMS
When selecting a Video Management System (VMS), you must consider key factotors that are critical for maximizing operational efficiency and maintaining security. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose a VMS that meets your current needs and adapts to future growth.
Total Cost of Ownership
Understanding the full cost of ownership of a VMS is critical and goes beyond the initial purchase price. It’s important to account for all factors, including hidden costs associated with licensing. Licensing models can often be complex, with potential additional expenses year over year. For instance, adding extra cameras or operator clients might require upgrades to more costly licenses. Ensure you’re fully aware of these potential costs to avoid surprises down the line.
Hardware Requirements
The architecture and performance of the VMS significantly impact how many servers and other hardware components are needed, particularly in large-scale projects. For deployments with multiple sites and thousands of cameras, choosing a VMS that minimizes hardware requirements while still delivering necessary performance and redundancy is crucial. It’s also important to consider whether third-party databases are required and how they might influence both performance and overall costs.
Management
In multi-site deployments, the ability to manage the VMS remotely can drastically lower the total cost of ownership. Features such as automatic camera firmware updates and system health monitoring are essential for efficient management. These tools allow for seamless operation across multiple sites, reducing the need for on-site maintenance and support, which in turn lowers operational costs.
Ease of Use
A user-friendly interface is vital to ensure that the VMS system is easy to operate. If the system is too complex, it could lead to lost productivity and increased costs due to repeated user training. It’s important to choose a VMS that is intuitive, allowing operators to perform their most common tasks easily and efficiently. Ensuring that the system’s workflow aligns with the operators’ needs is key to maximizing productivity.
Security
The security of the VMS is of paramount importance, especially in environments that require strict protection against cyber threats. It’s advisable to request results from penetration tests (“PEN tests”) to evaluate the system’s resilience against potential attacks. Ensuring robust security measures are in place is essential to protecting the system from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Extensibility
A VMS that doesn’t account for future growth can quickly become obsolete. It’s important to choose a system that is scalable and can easily integrate with third-party vendors for additional features like access control and video analytics. This ensures that the VMS can grow with your needs and adapt to future technological advancements.
Support Options
Reliable technical support is crucial for maximizing the uptime of your VMS. Ensure that the VMS supplier offers comprehensive support options, including the possibility of purchasing a maintenance and support package that provides priority service. Having responsive support can be the difference between minimal downtime and prolonged operational disruptions.
Features
When evaluating VMS options, it’s important to consider the system’s features and their value. Look for features such as online and offline video analytics, remote access capabilities, video footage management, system integration and automation, fault tolerance, system administration, enhanced operational stability, event notification, web client access, and remote video monitoring. These features are essential for ensuring that the VMS meets all security and operational needs.
Why Choose Tempus?
We understand the unique challenges of manufacturing. Whether you need support in IT systems, facility management, or industrial machine maintenance and installation, our team is dedicated to helping you achieve operational success. We offer solutions that ensure efficiency and security through advanced technologies and skilled professionals, and a customer-centric approach. You focus on growth and innovation while we take care of the rest.