By Jon Marsh, VP Product, Oncam

Interoperability has long been the gold standard for niche camera manufacturers aiming to provide a complementary solution to deliver additional value for customers. The standards set forth specifically by ONVIF help drive these manufacturers to streamline engineering toward the focus of adding options for end users, with a special emphasis on the everyday use of the technology. But what about tomorrow? These standards are instrumental in helping drive innovation now and into the future in a number of ways: 

Focusing on differentiators. 
As manufacturers aim to set themselves apart from the competition — especially in the already crowded video surveillance camera market — standards like ONVIF allow companies the opportunity to meet user demands without having to design an entirely new API. With a pre-established API that helps guide how technology components should interact, manufacturers are free to develop additional features while saving the time, energy and resources it takes to start the process from scratch. This frees up developers to focus on new ways of differentiating camera technology from that of other manufacturers, such as creating better picture quality in low-light conditions, optimizing the exposure in all areas of an image or reducing bandwidth required for a camera stream. 

Providing real results for end users.
True innovation exists when manufacturers are better able to address the needs of the customers who will ultimately use their technology to solve real-world problems. Customization becomes critical in this sense, as customers continually look for ways to ensure the technology in which they’ve invested can deliver the results they need. Designing camera technology that uses standards set forth by organizations such as ONVIF opens up a broader array of customization tools through other ONVIF-conformant manufacturers, which allows customers to take the driver’s seat and realize the benefits of a tailored solution.

Streamlining interoperability for a shifting focus on new features. 
One of the driving factors for manufacturers in the video surveillance camera market includes the quest for new and innovative features. Since R&D uses industry standards set forth by ONVIF, resources can be freed up to develop new features for end users. The use of standards, therefore, can drive innovation and creativity in an effort to deliver features that are useful in various market sectors. Additionally, the act of using standards can allow companies to put more resources behind other initiatives, such as a focus on cybersecurity or working groups dedicated to prospective new technologies and features.

Leveling the playing field. 
Using standards set in place for physical security allows smaller startup companies to compete with larger organizations. Typically, startups are created because they have an idea for how to make products stronger, with new ways to introduce features and solutions aimed at solving today’s problems. On the other hand, larger companies can approach products with the mentality of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” Having smaller, more agile and forward-thinking companies able to break into the market with new ideas can help drive innovation — and this is all done through the use of standards. 

The standards set forth by ONVIF are instrumental in allowing companies to deliver new features, products and overall forward-thinking innovation as a result of standardized approaches to research and development. As we usher in continued expansion of the organization’s portfolios, ONVIF member companies are poised to make a true difference in the level of innovation today and into the future.