Want Real ROI From Video Surveillance? Focus on the 20% That Drives Results
Not every alert matters—and not every camera brings ROI. Learn how ArcadianAI helps security integrators focus on what really works.
Introduction
Why do so many businesses install dozens of cameras, only to keep losing money on theft, inefficiency, and false alarms? The answer is simple: they’re looking at everything… and seeing nothing. In today’s surveillance landscape, more cameras and more alerts do not mean more value. The real return on investment (ROI) comes from laser-focusing on the 20% of alerts, features, and use-cases that deliver 80% of the impact. It’s the classic Pareto Principle—applied to video surveillance.
ArcadianAI, through its AI-powered assistant Ranger, helps security integrators and businesses stop wasting time on noise and start focusing on what matters. In this post, we break down what actually delivers ROI in a modern surveillance system—based on real use cases, data, and our experience working with retail stores, apartment buildings, warehouses, and monitoring centers.
Quick Summary / Key Takeaways
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80% of ROI in video surveillance comes from 20% of use cases
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Motion alerts, unless filtered by AI, are often useless
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Real-time human and vehicle detection reduces false alarms
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Ranger by ArcadianAI helps security firms focus on critical events
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Smart analytics like loitering, tailgating, and queue monitoring drive business insights
Background & Relevance
Too many businesses and security integrators still evaluate surveillance systems based on camera quantity or resolution, not outcome quality. Here’s why that approach fails:
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False alarm rates are over 90% in most monitoring centers (source: Forbes)
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70%+ of video footage is never reviewed—ever
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Retail shrink topped $112.1B in the U.S. in 2022 (NRF Report)
Security companies are bleeding resources chasing motion alerts that mean nothing. Meanwhile, loitering incidents, after-hours entries, or employee theft signals go unnoticed.
The solution? Reframe the question from “What can I monitor?” to “What do I need to catch to drive value?” That’s the heart of real ROI.
Core Topic Exploration
The 20% That Drives ROI
Here’s where your money is actually made:
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After-hours intrusion detection: Not just “motion” but confirmed person or vehicle movement
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Loitering and tailgating detection: Great for both crime prevention and compliance
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Customer dwell time & queue analysis: Used by retail stores to improve service and reduce walkouts
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Facial match alerts: For known shoplifters or banned individuals
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License plate recognition (LPR): High-value for gated communities, dispensaries, and logistics
The 80% That Wastes Resources
What doesn’t deliver ROI?
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Generic motion alerts triggered by wind, animals, or shadows
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Low-resolution outdoor cameras with no IR
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Storage-heavy solutions with no intelligent indexing
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Legacy NVR systems without cloud or AI capability
Real-World Example: Retail Integrator’s Wake-Up Call
One ArcadianAI retail customer had 68 cameras and over 2,000 alerts daily—yet still missed a major employee theft. Why? All the alerts were motion-based. Once Ranger was deployed, false alerts dropped by 90% and the same system caught after-hours tampering within the first week.
Comparisons & Use Cases
| Feature | Legacy NVRs | Cloud Systems (Generic) | ArcadianAI with Ranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Alerts | High false rate | Still high | Filtered by AI |
| Human/Vehicle Detection | Add-on, inconsistent | Sometimes available | Built-in, real-time |
| Cloud Access | None or limited | Yes | Yes + AI summaries |
| Business Insights | None | Minimal | Queue, loitering, patterns |
| Camera Agnostic | Often brand-locked | Often brand-locked | ✅ Works with 3,000+ models |
Top Use Cases That Drive ROI
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Apartment buildings: Identify loiterers, trespassers, and tailgaters
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Retail: Detect shoplifters, monitor dwell time, and track internal shrink
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Warehouses: Monitor loading zones, access control, and unauthorized movements
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Monitoring firms: Use AI to cut 90% of false positives and improve service SLAs
Common Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I use ArcadianAI with my existing cameras?
Yes, our system is camera-agnostic and supports over 3,000 models. No need to rip and replace.
Q2: What types of alerts does Ranger prioritize?
Ranger focuses on human detection, vehicle recognition, loitering, queue buildup, and other high-impact events. You set the priorities—we filter the noise.
Q3: I already use motion alerts. Why change?
Motion alerts are noisy and unreliable. They often waste monitoring time. Our AI looks at context, not just motion, delivering better results with fewer false calls.
Q4: Does focusing on fewer events reduce coverage?
No. It enhances it. By narrowing focus to what matters, you get faster response and better resource allocation, leading to stronger overall security.
Q5: How does this benefit integrators and monitoring firms?
Fewer false alarms = fewer dispatches = happier clients and lower costs. Plus, smarter features let you offer premium AI-based plans, increasing recurring revenue.
Conclusion & CTA
You don’t need more alerts—you need smarter ones. The best video surveillance ROI comes from focusing on the 20% of use cases that truly matter. ArcadianAI’s Ranger helps you do just that. Whether you're a security integrator, a retail chain, or a monitoring firm, stop chasing noise and start building value.
👉 Ready to focus on what matters? Get a demo now
Internal Links
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Learn how Ranger reduces false alarms
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See how AI surveillance improves retail shrink control
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Discover why ArcadianAI is the top NVR alternative
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Explore our business surveillance ROI toolkit
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Read about our camera-agnostic approach to cloud video
External References
Security is like insurance—until you need it, you don’t think about it.
But when something goes wrong? Break-ins, theft, liability claims—suddenly, it’s all you think about.
ArcadianAI upgrades your security to the AI era—no new hardware, no sky-high costs, just smart protection that works.
→ Stop security incidents before they happen
→ Cut security costs without cutting corners
→ Run your business without the worry
Because the best security isn’t reactive—it’s proactive.
