The risk of crime, security system downtime, and accidents are all major concerns when running a workplace. If any of these occur, they can have massive implications on your company and employees, both financially and mentally. However, video analytics have the technical capabilities to reduce potential crime, downtime, and accidents in the workplace, moving your security from a reactive model to a proactive, intelligent one. Keep reading as we cover how CCTV video analytics can reduce crime, downtime and accidents.Â
Video analytics are a type of software technology that uses an algorithm, often powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, to process live or recorded video footage data and, in turn, perform security-related actions. This means that video analytics can read video footage and identify key data, such as identifying individuals, vehicles, and other objects, as well as their movements and appearances. This is especially useful when wanting to identify certain individuals, cars, or objects, or to monitor for specific behaviour patterns.
Workplaces can set up their video analytics to search for certain triggers within the video footage, such as an object left unattended or a person crossing a defined perimeter. When these are found, an alarm is sounded to those monitoring the CCTV system, allowing for immediate action. It is therefore an efficient way to ensure no activity or footage gets missed due to human error. It also saves time and money on having a security individual constantly watch hours of CCTV footage, waiting for an incident to occur—a process that is notoriously prone to human fatigue and failure. In fact, the shift towards AI-driven security is one of the key commercial security trends in 2025, reflecting the industry’s need for greater efficiency and accuracy.
Not all standard CCTV systems will come with video analytics software. They will simply consist of video cameras and a recording system. However, every CCTV system will have the ability to be used in combination with video analytics, simply by adding the relevant software. This is especially true of modern IP-based cameras which are designed to integrate seamlessly with intelligent CCTV software and video analytics. The UK surveillance camera market is rapidly evolving, with a compound annual growth rate projected at over 19% for AI camera systems from 2025, highlighting that businesses are increasingly recognising the need to move beyond simple recording.
Choosing the right system for your business requires a thorough understanding of the technology available, which is why it’s vital to consult with accredited specialists who can advise on the best types of CCTV cameras and the correct analytical software to meet your security objectives and budget.
Video analytics is a great addition to your CCTV system to increase the safety and security of your workplace and reduce crime. Video analytic technology can do a number of features, such as identifying:
Therefore, if there’s suspicious activity out of, or during working hours, the system will pick it up and send a notification stating the type of alert. Video analytics are always monitoring CCTV footage, meaning it can be relied upon to always track activity and add an extra layer of security and protection to a workplace. This proactive monitoring is key in deterring and preventing crimes like arson or complex perimeter breaches.
Video analytics can help to reduce crime by identifying an intruder, suspicious objects, and break-ins, as well as specific individuals who are known to carry out crime. This instant, verified alert capability is crucial, particularly in large environments such as a logistics depot or a major factory, where traditional human monitoring of every camera feed is simply unfeasible for comprehensive coverage. For businesses considering a security system upgrade, understanding the different features and certifications insurers look for is essential to ensure maximum security and value.
Downtime of CCTV systems can lead to compromised security of a workplace. It is therefore important that a system has as little downtime as possible in order to ensure maximum safety and security of the premises and employees.
Video analytics can be used to detect security system and camera tampering, sabotage, and vandalism. For example, if a camera lens is covered, painted over, or turned away from its original position—a classic tactic by intruders—the system can be set up to sound an alarm and identify those in charge that the security system has been compromised. Without the alert, it could be several hours or even days before someone notices that a camera is not working properly. By that time, the intrusion and or theft could have already been committed.
In addition, video analytics can also identify other variables that if not identified, could cause significant system downtime and sufficient cost to the company. For example, lighting issues. If the light is poor and video footage can’t be picked up, it will send an alert. By continuously monitoring the camera’s health and environmental factors, video analytics enable predictive maintenance, allowing technicians to address minor issues, such as a dirty lens or a power fluctuation, before they result in a complete system failure. This ensures your security infrastructure provides maximum uptime, which is essential for businesses that depend on remote monitoring for after-hours protection.
Video analytics software can also be programmed to identify potential risks and activity that could cause harm to individuals and the premises. Therefore, helping to reduce accidents and improve health and safety in the workplace.
According to the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 680,000 working people sustained a non-fatal injury at work and 124 workers were killed in work-related accidents in the 2024/2025 period, highlighting the persistent and high-cost risk of workplace hazards. It is therefore important to have systems in place to identify and prevent accidents from happening but to also provide footage for insurance claims. Video analytics can play a critical role here, not just in capturing incidents, but in preventing them.
For instance, in the construction or farming sectors, where machinery operation is high-risk, a system can be trained to detect whether workers are wearing required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as high-visibility vests or hard hats, and issue an immediate alert to a site supervisor if compliance is breached. This proactive enforcement of safety protocols significantly reduces the likelihood of severe accidents. Similarly, this technology is invaluable for commercial property management, as video footage can immediately pinpoint the cause of a slip or trip, the most common type of non-fatal injury.
Some triggers that video analytics can be programmed to identify are:
Video analytics, therefore, have a number of benefits that will make a workplace safer and more secure. By installing video analytics software to work alongside your CCTV system, you’ll not only be improving the productivity and efficiency of your security personnel but will also be reducing potential crime, system downtime, and accidents in your workplace. This is how the technology helps build a security-first culture and better manage the risks outlined in your business continuity plan.
At BusinessWatch, we’ll work with you to install video analytics to a new or current CCTV system, with all the variables your workplace wants and needs.
Call us on 0330 094 7404 today or email us at enquiries@businesswatchgroup.co.uk for a free quotation.
