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Match a transaction to a digital image

SCS Distribution, local distributor of Milestone Systems, has launched a new surveillance product called Xprotect Transact, ideal for retailers and banks to improve profit margins through better detection of theft and errors in transactions.

Theft and fraud are responsible for millions in losses for retailers each year, resulting largely from employee shoplifting and skimming at the cash register. Banks have similar losses from stolen cards used at automatic teller machines.

According to Roy Alves of SCS Distribution, "Management can now track transaction exceptions together with video images of the events, to determine whether losses are due to innocent errors or outright cheating and theft.

"Milestone Systems A/S has developed Xprotect Transact as an add-on to Xprotect Business, its leading IP-based video surveillance software. The transaction data from a POS or ATM system is combined with the corresponding high quality video recordings for simultaneous searching, viewing and analysis: an integrated digital anti-fraud solution," he adds.

Fraud detection and evidence

Did the employee ring up the correct amount for the products visible on the counter? Were all the items scanned at the register? Was a returned item handled properly? Was the employee discount applied to a friend instead of the staff member? If a stolen card was discovered to be in use, what did the customer look like?

Says Alves, "Such scenarios are easy to detect with Xprotect Transact. Looking for evidence is fast - clicking on a transaction line displays the time-linked digital images, or clicking on an image shows the matching receipt details. Users can also search the system by date, time, or free text, and step through sequences from time lapses for recordings set by hours, minutes or seconds. This allows for both general overviews and specific pinpointing of occurrences. The bottom line is big savings through loss prevention."

Digital technology revolution

Previously, managers had to check receipts or transaction systems separately from video footage. Traditional analog surveillance meant hours of searching laboriously through bad quality videotapes that often are not conclusive enough to ascertain what happened. The digital network approach of Xprotect software eliminates these problems; its open architecture provides the ability to integrate recordings with transaction data for simultaneous searching with just the click of a mouse. Investigating suspect incidents is vastly improved.

"The development of Xprotect Transact responds to a growing need in the marketplace met by our expertise in surveillance solutions," says Alves.

"We had both retail shops and banks using our network video monitoring software, who wanted to connect it with their transaction data for fast management of the critical fraud problems in their business. Now it is available as an affordable, ready-to-use solution for other companies around the world," says Henrik Friborg of Milestone Systems.

For more information contact Roy Alves, SCS Distribution, 011 886 8080.

Axis stays ahead

IMS Research has recognised Axis Communications as the clear market leader in the fast-growing, EMEA network video market. In a recent report, IMS Research predicted a continued strong development for IP-based network video products in the EMEA region. Estimated average annual market growth rates for the coming five years are expected to be 28,4% for network cameras and 30,3% for video servers.

IMS Research, known for its high quality market research, estimated in its report that the EMEA market for network cameras and video servers is expected to grow to EUR 151,1 million in 2008.

The report, titled "The EMEA market for CCTV and video surveillance equipment," also ranked Axis as number 13 in the overall market share estimates for CCTV and video surveillance solutions, including analog CCTV equipment. This is yet another strong indication of the growth in IP-based solutions. Just a few years ago, digital solutions in total represented about 2% of the total market. Today, Axis by itself, represents 2,4% of the overall CCTV and video surveillance market in EMEA.

Looking at the network video market, Axis stands out as the undisputed market leader. In the network camera segment, the report found that Axis has a 59,8% market share. In the video server segment, Axis is also recognised as the clear leader with a market share of 35,4%, well ahead of its nearest competitor.

The report from IMS Research is based on interviews with more than 50 companies in the industry and on data and statistics derived from relevant news sources, annual reports and the Internet. Axis Communications products are distributed by SCS Distribution in South Africa.

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