Why total cost of ownership is critical when it comes to your video surveillance investment

With an increasing number of manufacturers now selling video surveillance systems using pay-as-you-go subscription models, it’s more important than ever to calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) of your security solution.

TCO takes into account the purchase price of a product, but also the long-term costs to operate and maintain the product over its lifetime.

If you want to be sure you are getting good value for your money, it’s a good idea to get your calculator out and do the math. A true calculation of cost requires a comparison of subscription and capex options that also takes into consideration a product’s track record for reliability, maintenance costs, and any ongoing licensing or annual fees.

Here are a few facts to consider when weighing the TCO of a March Networks solution:

Reliability

The 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs have full hybrid capability, supporting both analog and IP or just IP video.

March Networks’ video surveillance systems are engineered for reliable, long-term performance. In fact, literally thousands of our network video recorders (NVRs) are still operating in the field after more than 10 years of consecutive use!

Our 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs also feature a cumulative annualized failure rate of less than 1% – which means you’re know you’re getting a high-quality, purpose-built appliance that’s going to last.

Technical support and repairs

Product serviceability is another key consideration for TCO.  If a problem does occur with your video surveillance system, you’ll want to be able to diagnose it and repair it as quickly as possible.

The GURU Smartphone App is a free, industry-first application that quickly provides product and technical support while in the field.

That’s why March Networks designs its recorders with field replaceable parts. Hard drives, fans, batteries and power supplies can all be replaced without the recorder ever leaving your facility. Our optional docking stations also keep all recorder connections clean and securely connected to the back of the unit. If the unit ever needs to be replaced, it takes only minutes to slide the recorder out from the docking station and replace it.

We’ve also made it very simple to troubleshoot issues. Our innovative GURU Smartphone App lets technicians quickly diagnose issues using the status LED lights on the front of the recorders. By reading the color of the LEDs, you can learn if a hard drive or fan needs replacing, or if some other issue is occurring that could affect recording.

GURU also allows technicians in the field to check the warranty status of the unit and view video tutorials with just a few taps on their phone. Additionally, they can initiate an express Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) by scanning the QR code on the front of the unit.

Warranty

Warranties are an important reflection of the confidence a manufacturer has in its products and should also be considered when evaluating TCO. At March Networks, we offer a 3-year warranty on all of our recorder appliances that covers all components including hard drivers.  If something ever does go wrong while under warranty, we give you the option to return it for repair, or get an advance replacement unit shipped to you at no cost.

We also offer a 5-year warranty on our March Networks IP cameras.

Flexible payment options

Unlike many manufacturers, March Networks includes the cost of camera licenses in its base recorder appliance pricing. This is an important distinguishing feature that can make a difference in your TCO calculation.

March Networks also offers both capex and opex payment models, making it convenient for customers to pay in whichever way suits their business.

If you prefer to make a one-time capital purchase, you can buy your system outright. If, however, you prefer a subscription model, you can opt for monthly or annual payments and conveniently include other services, like business intelligence reports or managed services, into the package.

Managed services for peace of mind

A managed services offering like March Networks Insight can keep your system operating at peak performance. Insight’s remote monitoring and troubleshooting can actually end up saving you money in the long run, especially if you lack the in-house expertise to manage a video surveillance system. Our team of trained experts can keep watch over the system, ensure all your cameras and recorders are connected and functioning properly and quickly dispatch a technician if something goes wrong. This may be an important investment to consider in your TCO evaluation.

Working from our secure Network Operations Center (NOC), our team of experienced professionals monitors the health of our customers’ video network and resolves issues remotely.

Calculating the TCO of a video surveillance system is the only way to accurately evaluate your options and select a solution that you’ll be happy with over time.

We hope the above information will help when evaluating what March Networks has to offer.