Wavestore has launched V6, the ­latest version of their open platform VMS at IFSEC in London. The Linux based video recording and management system is able to simultaneously record images captured by combinations of analogue, IP, megapixel, HD, HD-SDI and 360 degree cameras. At IFSEC we had the opportunity to talk to James Smith, Marketing Director for Wavestore, about the company and its ­approach to the market.

GIT SECURITY: James, you have spent years in marketing in the security industry working for camera vendors. What is it that excites you about your new position in particular?

James Smith: I am very excited about having the opportunity to work with my colleagues and our partners to ensure that the advantages and benefits of what Wavestore has to offer are brought to the attention of a wider audience. Known for being truly independent and open platform, Wavestore has unique integration capabilities. The system is built to satisfy virtually any video management application up to Enterprise level through its software and NVR hardware solutions. Combine these with our excellent reputation for ease of use and support, and we truly have an opportunity to stand out from the crowd in what is a fragmented VMS marketplace.

You have mentioned the competitive VMS market. What features does the Wavestore system have to stand out of the competition?

James Smith: Wavestore is committed to an open platform philosophy and we are completely independent from camera and access control vendors. This enables us to integrate and work closely with camera manufacturers and other third party technology partners to offer a comprehensive security solution which can include access control, command & control, PSIM and a lot of video analytics functions. The ability to integrate other functions than video is a great advantage and explains why we are very strong when it comes to complex integration work. On the video side we bring together audio, data and video, including images from the latest ultra-high definition and 360° fish eye cameras and we integrate a large set of video analytics functions like motion detection, license plate recognition, abandoned object and intruder detection, people counting, perimeter security detection and traffic monitoring systems. Our system has a lot of state-of-the-art functions but when asked for the biggest advantage, a lot of our customers tell us that it is the ease-of-use and user-friendliness that sets us apart.

Ease-of-use and user-friendliness are hard to describe in words. Can you try it nevertheless?

James Smith: We provide a platform that makes integration between disparate third-party technologies simple. It can also augment ‘dumb’ systems with video and ease of control to create a much more powerful and effective total security solution. Many of the new and differentiating features have in fact been introduced as a direct result of listening and responding to customer requirements. They deliver against our ‘one screen, total control’ and ‘any video, any format’ ethos, allowing what can be very complex operations to be undertaken with ease in the most user-friendly way, even when, for example, integrating best-in-breed video analytics or access control. Examples of how the Wavestore VMS has become even more user friendly are the improved management of network interfaces and camera display layouts. In the current version, Wavestore’s unique client side de-warping and interrogation functionality of 360° cameras comes as standard, as does  the powerful review suite which allows users to easily search and instantaneously retrieve recorded images of incidents. The WaveView review suite works well even over very large amounts of footage and they video can be displayed alongside live images. Plus, for evidence purposes, a fully stitched-together sequence of events from any number of cameras can easily be exported in a wide range of video formats with just three simple clicks of a mouse.

You have mentioned the various video analytics functions. Are they the result of the integration work you do?

James Smith: Yes, we have already achieved deep integration between our VMS and a long list of best-in-breed technology and systems providers. We are proud that project-specific and specialist integrations can be easily, quickly and cost-effectively implemented thanks to WaveStar, our protocol translation script that enables our developers to provide bespoke integration with almost any device, with the functionality you need. Through the deep integrations our VMS is able to facilitate the delivery of business intelligence and improve operational efficiency, as well as provide a very powerful tool to combat criminal activity. The integration with PSIM systems is another area we focus on. Just recently our VMS has been successfully integrated with SureView Systems’ Immix Command Center software platform to protect enterprise businesses and central stations to protect critical assets. As a result of the integration, alarms reported via the Immix Command Center are automatically linked to the live video stream of any associated cameras connected to the VMS, allowing operators to verify that an incident is taking place and respond accordingly.

Integration is the basis for your business. What else do you do for your partners?

James Smith: We have just introduced the new ‘Better Together’ Partner Programme in support of the fast growing worldwide network of installers and systems integrators who are choosing to recommend our VMS solutions to end-user clients. The programme is designed to offer real-world advantages to companies involved in the design, installation and commissioning of video surveillance solutions. Among the benefits on offer are project registration, system design and tender submission support, as well as access to training, free demonstration licences and PR services. Our business philosophy is based on partnerships and that is why we have adopted the ‘Better Together’ theme for our Partner Programme. We believe we’re much stronger together with close partnerships leading to better solutions, happier end-user clients and more winning situations. Being open platform and truly independent means that through the Partnership Programme we will be able to develop ever closer business relationships with installers and systems integrators and by doing so, deliver innovative and best-in-breed total security solutions across a wide variety of end-user markets.