Interview with Zepcam's CEO & Founder, Bart van der Aa

Tell us a little bit about Zepcam?

Zepcam is a Dutch technology company that specializes in body-worn camera and video technology.

Founded in 2008, its offers a complete end to end solution for bodycams and mobile CCTV: integration of field devices (bodycams, vehicle video), server technology and video management software.

Zepcam has been focusing especially on live streaming technology over wireless networks like 3G/4G/Wifi. The company offers their own web based client software and has integrations with 3^rd party video management software like Milestone, Genetec and OnnSi / Seetec.

Bart, Zepcam’s CEO, believes that his company provides the best up to date technology for body-worn cameras and in-vehicle cameras, for both recording and live streaming. Zepcam also offer back-end support and services with their partners. Zepcam has worked extensively with Motorola, Alcatel Lucent, and Cisco to name but a few of the well-known companies.

In addition to this, Zepcam has several R&D projects with these companies, and offer an API to allow the integration of its products and solutions for law enforcement control or command centers.

The Zepcam brand has become well recognized in the European and Asian body worn camera sphere, particularly for live streaming, the company’s key unique selling point. One of the crucial aspects of this has been making its live streaming technology convenient and reliable.

Each countries’ cellular networks are complex and dynamic and the company has learned many lessons over the last five years. Its Mobile Video Box solution is a product that is a direct evolution from these experiences. This is a solution for vehicle cams to stream over the Zepcam platform.

Zepcam sells into forty countries and is the market leader for body-worn cameras in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.

What are the challenges in the body-worn camera and systems market?

The challenges faced by Zepcam are slightly different to the general market.

Overall, clients become more demanding and the body-worn camera market is becoming more competitive.

Zepcam is seeing new competitors entering the market, offering camera-only solutions and some radio manufacturers have added a camera to their equipment. So, more cameras on the person. On the other hand, clients demand integrated solutions for their cameras in the field. They demand well integrated solutions of bodycams, IT back end and video management software.

This is exactly where the Zepcam engineering team has been focusing on: one integrated solution for body worn and on-vehicle cams, back end solution and video management software.

For Zepcam live streaming video will always be a crucial part of its proposition. Zepcam excels in delivering superior and low-latency video streaming with its T1-live model. Zepcam also developed the mobile video box that allows 3G/4G live streaming of IP cameras. Besides video streaming, the mobile video box can record video streams, audio and GPS.

Authorities in mainland Europe and some regions of Asia have expressed great interest in these live streaming cameras.

Market Drivers

In the UK and USA, body-worn cameras dedicated to data gathering and transparency are the principal drivers for purchasing the technology.

In Europe, any extra tool to aid real-time intelligence operations, such as live streaming, to combat terrorism is well worth the investment.

The need for a full end-to-end solution is increasing. A demand that Zepcam can fulfill thanks to its own cloud and video management software and the possibility to integrate with third party software, making it easier for their clients to start deploying the bodycams. Zepcam has worked with Motorola Systems, Cisco and Thales Group.

It is imperative that relationships are also built with local integrators for CCTV installations or other video management software companies.

In the Netherlands, Zepcam has strong relations with VCS Integrations, and this collaboration has allowed both companies to quickly deploy solutions in the field effective.

How will the market evolve in 2017?

Zepcam expects a greater competition from a hardware perspective, an increased demand for a complete solution and improved live streaming features. Also, they expect larger deployment volumes as police forces move from small pilot tests to mass roll outs.

Zepcam noticed that police forces want to move from live streaming in the vehicle to continuing that feed as the officers leave the car onto the streets and buildings. A demand that Zepcam can fulfill.

Bart also expects the private security market to increase rapidly. Private security firms, like G4S, have large numbers of people in the field. The reason for this increased demand is that these firms need to be more accountable and document the interactions of their operatives. In order to avoid complaints and potentially expensive litigation costs.

Furthermore, as the number of private operations increase, these firms will look to cut costs by splitting operatives to work from groups or pairs to individuals operating on their own.

These will further necessitate the need for private security personnel to wear body-worn cameras.

How will Zepcam anticipate the changing market?

Zepcam is going to make it possible to redact videos in their web based video management system in the short term. Video redaction is becoming a “must have” feature in digital video evidence management systems. Especially in the US and British law enforcement markets.

A new cost effective record only body-worn camera will be released in Q2 of 2017. This product will be widely announced soon.

By continuing to work closely with system integrators Zepcam will ensure improvements of the integration of their live streaming body-worn cameras and in-vehicle solution.

What are Zepcam’s recent deployment?

Zepcam recently started deploying its mobile video box in vehicles in Dublin airport.

Airport security and the systems used in airports are becoming ever more sophisticated, and Zepcam believes its live streaming video solution will add an extra layer of security for travelers passing through the airport.

Additionally, the company is seeing bigger rollouts of body-worn cameras after successful trials with the German police.

Police forces in the State of Hessen, Germany, were one of the first forces to use Zepcam’s cameras, and the company is seeing a wider spread of adoption.

Expansion plans?

Zepcam is currently in a great position to continue pursuing business in Europe and the Middle East.

Asia is another promising market, particularly after the Hong Kong Police began using its live streaming cameras for special operations.

With the possibilities of remote engineering the maintenance workers and engineering may also prove to be a significant market in the future too.
For more information about the enterprise body-worn camera market and systems, please contact info@valourconsultancy.com

Tell us a little bit about Zepcam?

What are the challenges in the body-worn camera and systems market?

How will the market evolve in 2017?

How will Zepcam anticipate the changing market?

What are Zepcam’s recent deployment?

Expansion plans?

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“Valour Consultancy has provided an incredibly thorough perspective on the in-flight connectivity space, offering insight into drivers of the current and future state of the quickly growing category.”

Interview with Zepcam’s CEO & Founder, Bart van der Aa

Tell us a little bit about Zepcam?

What are the challenges in the body-worn camera and systems market?

How will the market evolve in 2017?

How will Zepcam anticipate the changing market?

What are Zepcam’s recent deployment?

Expansion plans?

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“The Future of Aircraft Seating and In-Seat Power report came at a pivotal time for us as we look to the future of our in-flight offering. It has helped shape our internal strategies and highlighted areas we need to dig into more deeply. Valour has become a trusted resource and partner.”

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