Video has evolved from monitoring to vision intelligence

Enterprises are sitting on a massive, underutilized asset: the data produced by their physical environments, especially from network cameras and sensors. 

Historically seen only as “security devices,” modern cameras are now rich data generators. In fact, the “Axis Perspectives Report 2026” shows that the number of organizations using video systems for business intelligence nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — from 20% to 38%. 

In manufacturing, for example, cameras are often used to ensure safety on the factory floor, but they can also be used for long-term systemic analysis and audits, resulting in benefits such as automated safety compliance, improved dock efficiency, and real-time tracking of bottlenecks. In retail, video systems meant to deter theft might also help inform store layouts and staffing strategies, generate customer flow heat maps, and lead to product interaction insights. 

This business value can best be unlocked, though, when cloud platforms centralize, orchestrate, and analyze that data at scale. With the cloud, organizations can aggregate data from multiple sites, systems, and devices — and connect cross-functional teams — to create a unified operational picture.

The advantage of the hybrid edge

Organizations should use a “hybrid edge” approach to powering their video-based business intelligence efforts, says Patrik Pettersson, a strategic adviser at Axis Communications. In this model, analytics at the network edge power real-time detection, processing, and analysis while public cloud platforms perform deeper large-scale pattern analysis. Furthermore, devices and their integration with the cloud platform require harmony, where the edge devices must be capable of working and being managed independently without requiring the cloud connection. This hybrid model reduces bandwidth, improves latency, and fits CIOs’ strategies for cost predictability.

Pettersson advises organizations to work with vendors whose devices are designed for secure and reliable cloud connectivity, offer open platforms for maximum flexibility, and have an established track record with edge-based analytics. 

“The smarter the device at the edge and the more it can do, the more it will alleviate costs in the cloud,” Pettersson says. “The harmony between the edge and the cloud is critical for economic cloud scaling for vision intelligence.” 

Scaling business intelligence

Leveraging existing camera infrastructure for business intelligence and operational efficiency requires close collaboration between security leaders and the business, Pettersson says. Also, cameras that were originally deployed to meet specific safety and security objectives cannot always support new use cases.

Security directors sometimes initially object to using cameras for business intelligence and operational efficiency, Pettersson notes, but he adds that they often relent once they understand that the relationship can be symbiotic. In turn, business leaders often need to yield to security leaders when leveraging physical security assets.

In some cases, business units may need to invest in dedicated systems or additional devices to achieve the outcomes they’re aiming for without compromising core security needs. “When each party’s interests are met and trust is established, the security director will likely be more open to including their devices in business applications,” Pettersson says.

To start, Pettersson says, organizations should conduct small-scale trials with only a few cameras. By first focusing on a single business department, they can better determine the potential ROI. “Proofs of concept and pilots are a great way to test capabilities in controlled settings and then gradually scale,” he says. “You don’t need to boil the ocean.”

It may take some time to find the right mix of on-premises, edge, and public cloud resources, Pettersson notes. “Often you can start with extremely powerful cloud compute tools that you already know will be cost-prohibitive at scale,” he says. “From there, you tune down and simplify until you get to a balance between cost, accuracy, and performance.”

To learn more, visit Axis Communications here.