Choosing a CCTV system integrator

The overall success of your CCTV system can hinge on the expertise of the installers who set it up. There are many important factors to take into consideration that require an expert understanding of lighting, optics, wiring, security, and more. In other words, your experience connecting your home TV to the DVD player does not mean you should set up your business security system!

In the CCTV industry, businesses typically buy from integrators or dealers. These vendors usually work with multiple manufacturers to offer a range of products, as well as installation and support. As with most business purchases, there are several key factors to look for when choosing a CCTV vendor.

Experience
A vendor’s experience in the industry is a significant indicator of the firm’s reliability and long-term stability. You will want to be able to work with your chosen vendor on an ongoing basis as you expand or upgrade your system, so choosing someone who will be around next year is important. Specific experience with businesses of your size and in your industry is also desirable: large warehouses may present problems that a vendor who specializes in small retail shops may not be prepared to address.

Installation
The quality of a CCTV installation can have lasting effects on your business. Qualified installers will not take a standardized approach to installation: they will analyze your needs and make sure you get a system that is customized to your location and business needs. They will also provide enough training and documentation to make sure your staff fully understands the operation and maintenance of your system.

Facilities
Visiting vendors’ facilities can be a great way to get a sense of their operations. You will be able to check out their repair shop and get a sense of how busy they are. You may want to ask for an organizational chart or a tour of their help desk. Depending on your support needs, proximity may or may not be important to you – if you plan to rely on telephone support and shipping components back for repair, it will not matter, but if you expect field technicians to come to you, distance from the vendor can be a factor.

Demonstrations
Nothing will give you a better sense of how well a CCTV system achieves your goals than seeing it in action. Some vendors conduct on-site demos, which gives you the added advantage of being able to see how the hardware looks in your location. Others will invite you to try the system in their office, which gives you that facilities tour we discussed, or will set up an online demo, which is helpful if you plan to view images remotely.

References
Another familiar way to investigate CCTV systems integrators for your business is to ask for references to other customers – make sure to ask for references that are in businesses similar to yours. Of course, you will be referred to the vendor’s most satisfied customers, but you can still learn quite a bit from them. Here are some sample questions to ask the references:

• How has the CCTV system accomplished the goals you set for it?
• Are you happy with the overall quality of the images, both live and recorded?
• Was the initial installation sufficient for your needs? Or did you have to add components or upgrade?
• What do you wish you had done differently?
• Have you needed any support or repairs? How did the vendor respond?
• Do you know of any one else who uses this system? (This can get you additional references to speak to, some of whom might be more candid.)
• If you had to say one negative thing about the system/dealer, what would it be?