Johannesburg, 16 Jul 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives and the way we do business. Restrictions have been implemented to protect our health, affecting us as individuals and the operations of our healthcare systems, companies, organisations and schools, as well as public and private institutions. Many new behaviours, such as physical distancing, virtual meetings and improved hygiene measures, will most likely linger as we gradually get back to normal. With smart solutions, we can help each other stick to the new routines.
Axis's tried and tested solutions are designed to increase security and maximise business performance and operational efficiency. In addition, they offer improved safety – never more important than in times of a pandemic. They allow us to carry on with our daily business while protecting ourselves and the people around us. Solutions range from touchless access to buildings, public address systems for voice messages and reminders, remote communication to keep physical distance to crowd and occupancy management to monitor and control the flow of people. They also include live streaming and broadcasting to keep operations running, as well as remote services to manage sites from a distance – solutions that support safe behaviours over time.
Touchless access control
A system for touchless access control makes it easier to comply with physical distancing and increased hygiene requirements. With AXIS Visitor Access, there is no need to physically open doors to trusted visitors or buzz them in – visitors will get a QR code instead of an access card to be allowed into a building. They can be granted access at specific times, and should someone change the schedule or cancel, it is possible to revoke or adjust their access as needed. This way, you are always completely in control, knowing when your visitor has arrived and left the building.
Public address systems
With public address systems you can manage messages and updates in environments like schools, retail stores, hotels, public buildings and city environments. These include scheduled regular reminders, event-triggered announcements or live voice messages when a situation arises that requires immediate action. It is, for example, possible to run a recurrent message in scheduled intervals to remind people to wash their hands and use hand sanitisers, as well as to keep physical distance or to stay at home when they are feeling sick. Event-triggered announcements can be used to tell people that an entrance now has become an exit and that they need to enter through another door, or to inform them that the maximum number of people allowed in a certain area has been reached and that they cannot enter right now. Live voice messages are used when a situation arises that requires immediate action, for example, to remind people to keep physical distance when a room or site is getting too crowded.
Remote communication
To meet the requirements of physical distancing, it is possible to communicate remotely and get a visual status, grant access from a distance and make live announcements. Axis network door stations let you speak with visitors face-to-face from remote locations, offering secure, hassle-free access to premises for employees and known visitors. Door stations can be used as information points or as emergency phones within a larger area like a city, park, or a school or as a flexible alternative to traditional front desk receptions. They also allow hospital staff to monitor and communicate with patients without having to enter the room. This means fewer changes into protective clothing and reduced use of protective equipment for the staff – without compromising patient safety. Have a look at Axis's co-operation with the Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Florida, to see how it works.
Crowd control and occupancy estimation
By not allowing too many people in one place at the same time, it is easier to follow physical distancing restrictions. Systems for people counting, crowd control and occupancy estimation help manage visitor traffic. For example, by setting thresholds, it’s possible to handle how many people are allowed in a certain space at a time. They can also be used to trigger actions, such as cleaning, stopping the flow of people, calling for extra staff to manage queues etc.
AXIS People Counter counts the number of people who enter and exit a building or site, and when they do it. By analysing the numbers, it is easy to plan accordingly, make informed decisions, take immediate action, improve services and operational efficiency. It can also be used to trigger an action – for example, to set up a number-based alert to trigger a desired action when a certain number of people have entered the premises.
AXIS Occupancy Estimator provides real-time data on how many people are present in a building or site. It is possible to synchronise multiple units within a building and add additional cameras anytime. Remote configuration, management and monitoring makes it easy to view statistics from several cameras and locations at the same time, while AXIS Queue Monitor is a cost-efficient application for queue management and analysis. It provides real-time data that can help identify where bottlenecks occur, understand service-cycle timing and improve visitors overall experience in stores, hotels, public buildings, banks, etc.
Live streaming and broadcasting
Always a practical solution, but especially useful when there are travel and meeting restrictions in force, live streaming and broadcasting make it possible to share information with a broader audience in auditoriums, classrooms and places of worship, for example, while adhering to requirements for physical distancing. And since it minimises unnecessary travel, this is also environmentally sustainable.
Remote services
Remote services make it easier to follow physical distancing restrictions and avoid unnecessary visits to a site, using remote connection, planning and device management. Security installers and system administrators can avoid a physical visit to the site but still successfully design a surveillance system, connect to remote cameras, manage devices, upgrade firmware or renew certificates.
AXIS Device Manager is a highly effective on-premises tool that promotes physical distancing by allowing remote monitoring of all devices. Security installers and system administrators can manage all major installation, security and maintenance tasks remotely. It is compatible with most Axis network cameras, access control and audio devices, and allows for management of multiple sites from one central location, including updates of product firmware and certificate management and renewal.
The Axis Secure Remote Access is a service that significantly simplifies the installation of remote access to surveillance systems. It is a technology that makes it possible for a smartphone or PC client to access Axis network cameras when the client and the cameras are located on different local networks. Connecting to remote cameras can be a challenge, especially when the cameras are located behind routers or firewalls. Once enabled it is automatically configured and removes the need of manual port-forwarding and router configuration.
Impact for the short- and long-term
Axis offers innovative and available solutions that increase security and maximise business performance and operational efficiency, and, above all, allow us to carry on with our daily business while protecting ourselves and the people around us – today and tomorrow.
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