Case Studies
HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG - Axis Communications
HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG maintains five field facilities, so-called ABEX facilities, where construction companies can quickly and easily procure material and tools for their building sites. Since the 1990s, HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG has been monitoring three of these facilities with analog cameras. Because analog technology has become less dependable over the years and its range of functions is no longer up to date, it was time for an extensive modernization of the facility.
Solution
The new technology should continue to reliably protect the properties from theft and break-ins and scare off potential criminals. In addition, it should be a digital solution and network-compatible. Furthermore, the company wanted high-quality images and support for modern compression standards in order to reduce network load as much as possible.
HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG installed 20 AXIS P3344 fixed dome camerasto monitor the crucial areas of both facilities. AXIS P3344 offers a resolution in HDTV 720 quality and complies with the SMPTE standard with regard to resolution, color rendering and frame rate. Thanks to its large dynamic range and day and night functionality the camera delivers clear images by daylight as well as during poor lighting conditions.
Result
The cameras are networked with one video server each in the ABEX facilities. The head office can also call up surveillance images over the Internet. The AXIS Camera Station video management software installed on the video server is recording and displaying the video images. In case of an incident, video images can be quickly provided to the investigating authorities through a simple search function and event management. Video people counters are also employed in foyers and entrance halls. A software plug-in in the cameras recognizes people and can thereby determine the exact number of visitors to the facility by day and hour.
Objective: a modern, up-to-date solution
HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG is a wholesaler for building services and belongs to the long-standing GC Group. The consortium comprises 90 independent partners and offers all lines of building services through to electrical and roofing technology. The consortium employs more than 10,000 workers and nearly 1,000 trainees.
The new technology at HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG should be a digital solution and networkcompatible. Furthermore, the company wanted highquality images and support for modern compression standards in order to reduce network load as much as possible. In addition, the technology should support modern software applications, such as people counting, i.e., automatically counting the number of visitors.
HDTV quality convinces
Especially convincing for the building services specialists in their selection of Axis technology were the detail-rich recording quality in HDTV resolution, the modern H.264 compression standard and support for all established IP standards. Besides, the open Axis technology protects the investment because it can be upgraded to encompass future developments.
Practical installation
The installation was quick and easy with the special AXIS Installation Monitor. This installation monitor can be connected directly to the camera and offers the user a preview of the area under surveillance as well as the quality of the recorded images. It is therefore not necessary to subsequently align the cameras after connecting them to the monitors, which saves a lot of time.
The cameras are networked with one video server each in the ABEX facilities, and the head office can also call up surveillance images over the Internet. Video people counters are deployed in the foyers and entrance halls: A software plug-in in the cameras recognizes people and can thereby determine the exact number of visitors to the facility by day and hour. HS-C. HEMPELMANN SCHÖNEBECK KG can, for example, therefore better tailor its capacities to its hours of operation.
*Case Study available via Axis Communications, Success Stories 2010
EET Nordic - Axis Communications
With an annual turnover of 800 million Danish Kronor, IT distributor EET Nordic’s logistics center in Ballerup is a hive of activity requiring optimum control. Every day, thousands of computer products destined for end customers around Europe are transported in and out of the enormous warehouse. In the midst of all the activity it can be difficult to avoid uncertainty and mistakes in connection with individual deliveries. Although it does not happen often, this is always a problem which costs dearly in time and loss of goodwill with customers. Therefore, EET Nordic was looking for a solution that could enable better monitoring and thereby improve the dialogue with customers and carriers.
Solution
The solution to EET Nordic’s challenges turned out to be close at hand, right on EET Nordic’s own warehouse shelves. EET has been a distributor of Axis network video products for many years and chose to optimize its stock control using Axis network cameras because they are reputed for their high quality and great reliability. They are also very easy to set up and operate.
Result
EET Nordic installed more than 50 Axis network cameras which are connected to a central server and controlled using Milestone’s video management software. EET Nordic now has an advanced monitoring tool at hand, which not only reduces the number of mistakes significantly, but also makes it possible to improve customer service and satisfaction. Using video monitoring, EET Nordic will always be able to document what has happened with each individual consignment.
Controlling the hive
EET Nordic is one of Europe’s largest distributors of computer products and spare parts and has offices in 13 countries around Europe and more to come. The Logistic Center is situated in Denmark, from where the majority of EET Nordic’s deliveries are dispatched. Every day, EET Nordic’s head office is a hive of activity, where products are received and dispatched from the storage area, from suppliers and to customers all over Europe.
In order to increase the quality of service and be able to document delivery handling, EET Nordic chose to install Axis network cameras. Logistics Director at EET Nordic, Tom Kjærulf, says: “Always being able to document to our customers what has happened to the individual delivery whilst it was our responsibility, gives us great confidence and security. It also appears that many customers feel more confident choosing us as their distributor, because we are able to tell them that we can document our deliveries at all times, should any doubt arise. Before, we evaluated mistakes by what we thought had happened, but now we can relate to the real course of events. Being able to show that no mistake was made by EET Nordic’s co-workers during the handling process has helped reduce our quality costs substantially. Customers also find it easier to accept our conclusion of the event when we send them a video sequence as documentation.”
More than 99% of EET’s orders are now executed on the day of receipt – whether the customer is based in Malmö or Milan – helping the company to further gain credibility and the trust of its thousands of customers.
Reliable and correct deliveries
With Axis network cameras, EET Nordic never has to guess, and can always find exact documentation for each individual phase of the goods handling. Everything is recorded and kept for 30 days. If a customer contacts EET Nordic because he did not receive his order, or because the delivery is faulty, EET Nordic’s logistics service can immediately get into the monitoring system and examine the recordings to find out whether the mistake was made by EET Nordic or elsewhere within the supply chain. The system is used every day, because it is impossible to avoid problems in a large logistics centre handling thousands of consignments every day.
The video monitoring system has already saved EET Nordic a great deal in terms of both goodwill and money. The company has experienced instances of consignments with values far exceeding the cost of the new monitoring system, which have not reached the end customer.
With the camera monitoring, it will always be easy to prove that the consignments have actually left the dispatch department and that the fault therefore must lie with another link in the supply chain.
“Axis network cameras are used more and more often for alternative monitoring purposes, and an installation like the one at EET Nordic clearly indicates the great advantages of the cameras when it comes to making the work flow, operational security and customer service more efficient. EET Nordic’s installation goes to show that Axis’ network cameras can be used for more than just protection,” says Magnus Zederfeldt, Sales Manager, Axis Communications (Scandinavian and Baltic countries).
EET Nordic has also gone to great lengths to tell its employees about the network cameras. Their reactions have been positive, as they feel safe knowing that the truth about the deliveries can be found at any time, should any doubt arise.
Focus on future improvement
At EET Nordic there is a constant focus on improving logistics by employing the latest technology. The company doesn’t lean back and count on future success. The logistics firm strives to be the best in its area of business and use of intelligent camera surveillance is one of the tools that will consolidate EET Nordic’s leading position in the future.
“We are constantly following the technological development to make sure we get the most out of the functionalities that Axis Communications’ products offer in collaboration with software from Milestone. In the future we will implement new features such as face recognition in relation to access control, two way sound, analysis of images and full HD image quality,” says Tom Kjærulf. 35675/EN/R1/0905 “Always being able to document to our customers what has happened to the individual delivery whilst it was our responsibility, gives us great confidence and security. Customers also find it easier to accept our conclusion of the event when we send them a video sequence as documentation.“ Tom Kjærulf, Logistics Director, EET Nordic.
