Verkada introduces AI-Powered Alerts, expanded integrations, as well as next-generation cameras, intercoms, and door readers at VerkadaOne

Last week, more than 1,600 IT and Physical Security leaders joined us in Denver for our second annual VerkadaOne conference. For three action-packed days, they had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions highlighting the latest in physical security technology, network with other IT and security professionals, and take advantage of industry training. 

We also shared an early look at a number of new products, features, and integrations across Verkada's platform. Here's a snapshot of the latest innovations attendees learned about:

Ever-Evolving Software

Our customers love our platform because it is constantly improving, with new software features released every quarter. But in addition to creating completely new features, we also are always building upon and optimizing existing capabilities. At VerkadaOne, we discussed several examples of this, including new alerting capabilities that build upon our AI-powered search functionality, a new Occupancy Trends dashboard that expands our previous single-camera occupancy functionality, ongoing improvements to video streaming, as well as major updates to visitor sign-in flow capabilities in Verkada Guest. 

AI-Powered Alerts

In June, we released a unique way to search for footage in Command: AI-powered search. Users could search for virtually any characteristic of a person or vehicle, at a time of day or in a specific location, using natural language. In August, we announced how we further enhanced these capabilities by enabling users to use boolean terms such as “NOT” or “OR” when searching, (ex: an individual “not wearing a safety vest”).

With our most recent release, it will now be possible to create and receive alerts based on natural language queries. For example, an organization can create an alert to be received  any time someone is seen on camera not wearing a safety vest, or for virtually any natural language description of a person or vehicle. This builds upon our AI-powered search capability by allowing customers to create notifications for highly specific situations that they are able to describe in plain language. 

Occupancy Trends Dashboard

Many organizations, from retailers, to manufacturers, to schools, are looking for reliable ways to track the number of people or vehicles in a given space in order to inform decisions on staffing, inventory or vehicle traffic management, or even energy use.

Previously, within Command, users could see basic patterns of movement across a single camera view. While this allowed them to obtain approximate counts of people or vehicles crossing into or out of a single area, it didn’t allow them to view net occupancy. Our new Occupancy Trends dashboard will now make it much easier for these customers to visualize and understand the occupancy of a space over the course of a day, week, or month. 

Improvements to Streaming Experience

Our engineering team consistently works to deliver the highest quality video playback while improving two key streaming metrics that significantly impact a Command user’s experience: latency (the time between when a camera sees something and when a user sees it in Command) and time to first frame (how quickly a video stream starts when a user clicks on it). Last May, we announced that (via the implementation of WebCodecs) we had reduced latency down to less than a second (~870ms). 

In the last few months, we have further improved streaming experience with a focus on reducing time to first frame. With the implementation of a technology known as HTTP/2, we were able to streamline the delivery of initial video data. Now, users can expect to see a selected video stream within an average of 1.1s from initially clicking on it, significantly reducing the wait time for video playback. 

Updates to Verkada Guest Admin Functionality

We recently overhauled the admin experience on Verkada Guest to enable an organization to deliver even more secure and convenient check-in experiences for their visitors. Now, admins can create highly customized sign-in flows using conditional logic, whereby the questions a visitor sees can be made dependent on how they answered a previous question. For example, if a visitor responds “yes” to a question about having a food allergy, a follow up question can be asked about the specific type of allergy. 

In addition, color-coded or custom badge designs can be printed based on sign-in flow responses, which enables badges to be visually representative of a vistor’s needs or other characteristics indicated when signing in. Finally, frequent return visitors can now use facial recognition to check in, skipping the full sign-in flow in order to expedite entry. 

An Integrated Physical Security Platform

At VerkadaOne, CEO Filip Kaliszan touched upon the power of an integrated platform and our goal to make Command even more interoperable. In Denver, we highlighted two significant milestones towards this: Command Connector, which enables our customers to connect third party cameras to Command, and our Verkada Integrations Program, which invites third-party technology providers to build integrations directly into Command in order to enable powerful, out-of-the box joint solutions. 

Command Connector

Many of the powerful camera analytics features we have brought to life, such as AI-powered search, are made possible by controlling the end-to-end experience for our customers. We often find that organizations want to use Command and leverage these capabilities, but may find it difficult to fully transition to Verkada cameras in order to do so. This may be due to a large existing investment in legacy infrastructure, a recent investment in another solution, or the need for  specialty cameras, such as thermal cameras or explosion proof devices, that we don’t support today. 

All of that is why, in August, we launched Command Connector, a device that allows our customers to connect third-party cameras to Command. Command Connector gives customers the ability to take advantage of our cutting edge analytics as well as quickly get a single view across all of their sites, while enabling them to fully transition on a timeline that makes sense for them. 

Third-Party Technology Integrations

In his keynote, Filip highlighted an integration that we built with Fusus, enabling one of our customers, Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), to seamlessly bring Verkada video streams into their Real Time Crime Center. This enables WSPD to centralize their operations while still leveraging Verkada’s powerful video analytics features, such as license plate recognition.  

Today, in addition to Fusus, we have a variety of partners with whom we have built integrations, including Auror, Axon Evidence, HiveWatch, SingleWire Software, and more. These joint solutions give our customers powerful new capabilities; for example, our integration with Auror allows retail customers to export video archives from Command directly to Auror. From there, footage can be consolidated and disseminated to a network of retailers and law enforcement in order to better identify repeat offenders.

In the coming months, we plan to work with many more providers to build custom joint solutions which can be easily leveraged by customers across a variety of complex environments and use cases—further expanding the interoperability of Verkada’s platform. To learn more about who we currently integrate with, or to apply to become a Verkada Integration Partner, visit our integrations page. 

Next Generation Hardware: New Cameras, Intercoms, and Door Readers

Over the last several months, our hardware engineers have been hard at work developing the next generation of devices across our Video Security, Intercom, and Access Control lines of product. In Denver, we announced three new camera models (including the next generation models of our fisheye and PTZ), three new intercoms with enhanced access functionality, as well as a new door reader. 

Next Generation Cameras and New Split Camera

Our newest generation of fisheye and 4K PTZ cameras sets the industry standard for image quality and hardware design. With larger image sensors and advanced optical lenses, they’re able to deliver the sharpest images yet. They also feature the latest Ambarella CV7x line of processors to power even more cutting- edge analytics. In addition to enhanced performance, we also sought to improve the overall design to both facilitate faster installations, as well as to withstand some of the worst weather conditions. 

In addition, we also announced a new mini split camera, the CM42-S. The CM42-S is designed for locations where space is tight or discretion is required; for example, an ATM or a discreet location within a retail store. This camera now gives our customers the ability to monitor an expanded set of locations without drawing attention. 

New Intercoms with Multiple Form Factors

We launched our first intercom in 2023. Today, over 4,000 customers use a Verkada intercom to collectively place more than 100,000 daily calls  in locations spanning schools, manufacturing sites, and healthcare facilities. 

At VerkadaOne, we announced three new intercom models, all with enhanced audio and video quality as well as a built-in state-of-the-art door reader—making it convenient to grant access not only to visitors but also to individuals with a credential. 

• TD33: a compact form-factor intercom that is easily mountable on mullions

• TD53: an improved version of our TD52, featuring a thinner form factor as well as more inputs/outputs and microphones

• TD63: similar form-factor to the TD53 with a built-in keypad for an additional form of access of multi-factor authentication

New Door Reader with Keypad

In August, we announced our next generation of door reader, the AD34. In addition to improvements in credential scan performance, form factor, and LED feedback, the AD34 also features the ability to perform a secure, BLE hands-free unlock thanks to an innovative technology known as time-of-flight. 

Building on this, in Denver we announced our first door reader with a keypad, the AD64. In addition to featuring all of the capabilities of the AD34, organizations can now allow individuals to gain access with a simple PIN code—or to enforce multi-factor authentication for those who have a credential (i.e., require both a badge scan as well as a PIN code to gain access). To learn more about the craftsmanship behind the AD64 and how both of our new readers are optimized for security and convenience, read the announcement here. 

What’s Next

As always, we are continuing to invest in functionality across all our products. All of the software features outlined in this post will go live for existing customers on October 3rd. Command Connector is already available, while ship dates for the other hardware products vary. To learn more, be sure to read our in-depth blog posts and watch our VerkadaOne What’s New Webinar.