IP camera market: drivers and main constraints of 2020-2024

China is the largest manufacturer and consumer of IP cameras, and the United States has the largest number of cameras per capita. Such conclusions were made by analysts from the IDC research agency. At the same time, there is a rapid transition from analog video surveillance to digital IP cameras all over the world. Our article is exactly about this. Read to the end, it will be interesting.

World’s first IP camera

In May 2013, Martin Gren, the inventor of the world’s first IP camera, was honored with the IFSEC & FIREX Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Security Industry.

In 1996, the first IP camera was invented with the collaboration of Martin Gren and Carl-Axel Alm. This development has had a significant impact on the global leadership of Axis Communications, which has made a significant contribution to the transition from an analog video format to a digital IP model.

Express forecast of the IP market

IP video surveillance cameras were a breakthrough in 2017-2019, and by 2024 the IP camera market, according to Global Market Insights forecasts, will reach $20 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 20%.

Drivers of growth

Experts name the following sources of growth in the IP video surveillance market:

1. Development of technologies (image enhancing, elements of artificial intelligence, implementation of image compression algorithms).
2. Widespread distribution of the Internet and connection to it.
3. Emergence of cloud spaces for storing large amounts of information (cloud storage).
4. Demand for remote forms of interaction with cameras (mobile access).
5. Demand from business communities for intelligent video analytics.
6. Impact of government initiatives on public safety.

Market constraints

IP surveillance cameras, as a market segment, are developing rapidly, but one cannot but mention the market constraints:

1. Compulsory connection of cameras to the Internet (connection of an ip camera is impossible without the Internet).
2. Vulnerability of equipment (outdoor ip camera) from climatic conditions and acts of vandalism.
3. Relatively high cost of cameras.
4. User concerns about the security, privacy and reliability of data storage due to the use of the Internet connection.

Geography of preferential use

Interesting statistics were provided by the international agency IDC. According to their reports, the People’s Republic of China leads in the number of digital cameras used, but the United States holds the lead in the number of cameras per capita.

So, 15.28 cameras/100 people are located in the United States, and in China 14.36 cameras/100 people. Although the total number of cameras installed in China is 4 times the number of American cameras. The reason for such statistics, respectively, is the total population of the studied countries.

The top five in terms of the number of IP cameras includes Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. The smallest number of digital cameras is installed in Russia, India and Brazil. According to analysts’ forecasts, such geographic segmentation will remain unchanged until 2024.

Key market players

All over the world, the main consumers of digital video surveillance via the Internet are the public sector, large and medium-sized businesses.

The goals of using IP cameras for the public sector are to ensure public safety, including the creation of Safe Cities. Detailed information on this topic can be found in the article “Video surveillance – foundation of a safe city. Integration matters”.

If we talk about the goals of business users, then it is to reduce costs and increase profits by monitoring work processes, improving the quality of service and collecting marketing data.

In Russia

The Russian video surveillance market has objective reasons for lagging behind global trends. At the same time, in the Russian Federation, there is a massive transition to digital methods of video monitoring, although supporters of analog systems are strenuously defending their positions.

Their main arguments are based on pricing: analog cameras are cheaper. But if you take into account all the costs (the price of cameras + cost of a set of additional equipment + cost of installation, commissioning and regular updating of the system), IP video surveillance is a budget option compared to the counterpart.

The average growth rate of the Russian IP camera market is about 10% per year.

Conclusion

In the near future, the growing number of players in this market will lead to lower prices for IP-based video surveillance equipment, despite stable consumer demand.

Interest in cameras will be provided by government initiatives to organize monitoring of safe and smart cities, as well as representatives of big businesses. In addition, the number of IP cameras used in the residential sector to ensure the safety of houses and apartments is growing rapidly.