Can the CCTV you already have detect theft at the gate?
In many cases, yes. Computer vision is software that watches camera footage and recognises things in it, such as a person, a vehicle, a number plate or an open door. Running it on the cameras you already have turns recordings that are only reviewed after a loss into a live check that alerts a supervisor while there is still time to act.
Why recorded footage rarely stops a loss
Most sites have far more cameras than people watching them. One or two operators facing a wall of screens cannot keep their attention on all of them for a full shift, so footage becomes evidence after the event rather than a control during it. The cameras are not the problem. Nobody can watch them all.
What computer vision can check
The useful checks are specific: a vehicle at the gate whose plate does not match the dispatch note, a person in an area they are not cleared for, a truck leaving a bay with no matching load record, a door opened outside working hours, a person on foot in a vehicle-only zone. Each is a rule you set. When the rule is broken, the right supervisor gets an alert with the clip attached.
Will it work with our cameras?
Most modern IP cameras and network video recorders can share their streams. Older analogue cameras sometimes can too, through the recorder. What matters most is where the camera points and how much light there is: a camera aimed at the sky, or a gate in darkness, needs adjusting before any software can help. A site assessment tells you which cameras are usable as they are, which need moving, and where one extra camera would cover a gap.
Unstable power and expensive data
Video is processed on a small computer on site rather than sent across the internet, so it keeps working when the link drops and does not run up a data bill. Alerts go out over whatever connection is available, including WhatsApp, and queue until the link returns.
What it cannot do
It does not replace guards or supervisors; it tells them where to look. It cannot see what the camera cannot see. It makes mistakes, especially at first, which is why it runs in observe-only mode before it raises alerts, and why every alert is reviewed by a person.
Questions buyers ask
Do we need to replace our CCTV?
Usually not. Most cameras can be used as they are. Some may need repositioning or better lighting.
Does footage leave our site?
Not by default. Processing runs on a computer in your control room, and only alerts and short clips are sent to the people who need them.
Can it read number plates at the gate?
Yes, if the camera is positioned for it and the plate is lit. Plates can be matched against expected vehicles and dispatch records.
What about facial recognition?
It is possible for access control, but it involves sensitive personal data under the Cyber and Data Protection Act. It needs clear notice, a lawful basis and agreed retention before it is switched on.
Book a platform briefing
A 15-minute technical discussion with an engineer. Tell us how the work runs today and we will say plainly what could be automated with what you already own. Email sales@eigenstatesystems.com or message us on WhatsApp at +263 77 636 6999.