Increased emphasis placed on interoperability and total cost of ownership in security purchasing decisions From 4K Ultra HD resolution surveillance cameras to near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth-enabled access control readers and applications, technology innovation in the security industry runs the gamut.

However, while these newer technologies and the advanced functionality they offer generate a lot of buzz, the fact remains that today’s end users and systems integrators are looking for much more in the security devices they purchase than just the latest and greatest features.

Despite a slowly recovering economy, security budgets have yet to climb back to their pre-recession levels.

As a result, end users and integrators must be able to show a tangible return on investment (ROI) on the security solutions they purchase. For many years, security operated within a silo, but that is quickly changing.

Companies are now looking for security solutions that can be leveraged across different departments —human resources, facilities and more— and also provide long-term value to the organization.

Additionally, it is no longer acceptable for security manufacturers to use a “checkbox” approach to the features they offer. More thought needs to be put into how the features of a product can be best utilized by customers.

For example, a video surveillance company could develop a revolutionary type of analytic, but if the setup of that analytic is temperamental for integrators, then what difference does it make to customers looking to use that technology?