Over the past year, the importance of video management systems (VMS) has continued to change significantly. From the perspective of Mark Shepperson, Global Marketing and Brand Manager at Cathexis Technologies*, three developments in particular have been at the forefront: dealing with ever-increasing amounts of data, the functional expansion of VMS beyond traditional video security, and the establishment of hybrid operating models.

From recording system to intelligent platform

According to Cathexis Technologies, VMS have finally evolved from pure video recording and playback systems to intelligent software platforms over the past year. The main driver of this development was the rapid increase in cameras, sensors and video data in complex and distributed infrastructures. For operators, the challenge was no longer data collection, but the meaningful filtering, evaluation and use of this information.

Today’s modern VMS must be able to structure large amounts of data, identify relevant events and support users in making quick, informed decisions. This is precisely where Cathexis sees the core task of contemporary platforms.

Focus on data reduction and responsiveness

Last year saw growing demand for solutions that relieve users of the burden of manually monitoring numerous cameras. According to Mark Shepperson, the added value of modern VMS lies in condensing video data and converting it into actionable information. Intelligent functions help to filter out irrelevant material, prioritise events and significantly reduce response times – even across multiple locations.

Powerful multi-site management functions proved to be a decisive factor, particularly in large-scale or internationally distributed installations.

Expansion beyond traditional security

Another defining trend of the past year was the functional opening up of VMS. According to Cathexis Technologies, modern systems are no longer limited to video and access control. Instead, interoperability and the integration of external systems are becoming increasingly important.

VMS have thus evolved into central platforms that combine video, security-related functions and AI-supported evaluations, thereby providing additional operational insights. This development has led to VMS being used in many projects not only as a security tool, but also as a comprehensive management and analysis instrument.

Hybrid models as the standard approach

Last year, it also became clear that purely local or purely cloud-based approaches do not meet the practical requirements of many users. Cathexis Technologies observed a clear trend towards hybrid architectures.

Local storage of high-resolution video data remains central to ensuring reliability, performance and data sovereignty. In addition, cloud functions are gaining in importance, for example for remote access, system management or cross-location monitoring via web and mobile interfaces. This combination enabled users to combine scalability and control without compromising on security or costs.

AI as an integral part of modern VMS

Cathexis Technologies also sees the past year as an important step forward in the field of artificial intelligence. AI-supported analyses have increasingly become an integral part of modern VMS, with the aim of increasing accuracy and efficiency. Cathexis relied both on its own AI developments and on the integration of suitable models.

One example of this is the targeted pre-filtering of video material based on object characteristics, such as colours, to make relevant sequences easier to find. Such functions have helped to significantly speed up investigation and analysis processes.

Conclusion

From Cathexis Technologies’ perspective, the past year was marked by a clear functional and strategic upgrade of video management systems. VMS established themselves as intelligent, open and hybrid platforms that go far beyond classic security applications. The ability to structure large amounts of data, make meaningful use of AI and integrate different systems has become a decisive success factor for modern video and information management solutions.

*Statements from an article in the magazine: https://www.securitysa.com/24614r