A hypermarket retail chain has updated its legacy CCTV system across its Middle East operations to offer surveillance and business intelligence.
Carrefour Jordan operator Majid Al Futtaim turned to specialist systems integrator Ametrad Technology Services to upgrade its in-store video surveillance. The Dubai-based retailer, which introduced Carrefour to the Middle East in 1995 and now operates 70 outlets across the region, has plans to open new express stores and hypermarkets.
Ametrad are deploying video technology built around IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) video management software (VMS) for the Majid Al Futtaim security team, who work to prevent losses, improve safety and security, enhance the customer experience and increase operational efficiency across eight express stores and hypermarket.
The manufacturer IDIS describes its ISS VMS as modular and scaleable, giving Carrefour centralised monitoring with multi-layered failover providing protection against network instability and power outages. The retailer says that its legacy CCTV was proving costly to maintain and time-intensive to operate, while low bandwidth at some stores was limiting performance. These problems were being compounded by new requirements to move from 30 to 90 days storage.
Ametrad managing director Ahmad Shanawani says: “We have not experienced a single hard disk drive failure, a request for an NVR reset, or any gaps in footage due to a power outage. This is tangible evidence of IDIS’ quality, resilience and failover technology.”
All the hardware is backed by a cost-free warranty and the ability to add new stores as they come online – vital as Carrefour serves over 200,000 customers every day in the region and is continuing to expand. In a phased upgrade, some 32 2MP domes and bullet cameras already provide coverage at the hypermarket in Irbid city centre in Jordan, with a further 64 legacy cameras earmarked for upgrade, while an average of 28 cameras deliver situational awareness across each express store.
The IDIS cameras ensure image capture in varying light conditions, including in darkness up to 30 metres, and cope with varying light and shade thanks to true wide dynamic range, the product firm says. Its 32-channel NVRs and an interface for authorised retail staff at each supermarket provide 370Mbps throughput and up to 960ips UHD real-time recording. This ensures live monitoring and forensic video retrieval, while native RAID 1 adds a layer of redundancy.
Ametrad engineers connected each device in minutes thanks to true plug-and-play IDIS DirectIP, and IDIS For Every Network (FEN) allowed one-click configuration linking each store to a control centre. The manufacturer adds that the hierarchical connection structure between IDIS DirectIP devices also guaranteed the most efficient method of cabling into the compact control room.
Limited bandwidth was solved with IDIS Intelligent Codec, which typically reduces storage and bandwidth requirements by up to 75 per cent it is claimed compared to H.264, while dynamic multi-stream control has alleviated latency. These technologies also allowed Carrefour to double the camera count at each store to provide coverage without the need to upgrade networks.
Ametrad is also deploying IDIS VA in the Box analytics, to provide each store with heat mapping, people counting, queue management and intelligent reporting – for helping with sales and marketing, and providing store managers with business and customer behavioural insight.
ISS control panels provide live monitoring, playback, event search, system health reports, and navigation via store layouts, allowing control room staff to trouble-shoot and manage hundreds of video streams and devices across stores. These intuitive functions have reduced the time needed to find and export video clips from hours to minutes.
Carrefour has contracted Ametrad to provide maintenance services and is working with the installer with a view to adopting new technologies such as IDIS Deep Learning Analytics.
Visit www.idisglobal.com.
