Axis is open at its core. Since the company’s earliest days, we have committed to avoiding proprietary protocols and implementing open standards to offer our customers the benefits of increased scalability and customised solutions that perfectly match their needs. The AXIS 2100, for example, was the first mass-produced product in the world in 1999 that used embedded Linux – this early use of open-source code boosted Axis growth immensely and laid the groundwork for what would become the Internet of Things.
Over time our philosophy of openness has evolved into a mission: we believe that freedom and collaboration make the world better. When creators and users are free to collaborate, supporting one another with open technologies, everyone is empowered to use their hardware in the most effective way possible. That’s where Axis Technology Integration Partners (TIPs) come in.
TIPs are the cornerstone of Axis open ecosystem. Working closely with Axis, they help to expand and diversify the abilities of our hardware by building the unique integrations that give our customers precise solutions without compromise. Openness creates opportunities for everyone involved.
Partners and platforms
Every location and situation is different, of course, and every installation is unique. There is no single solution for security and surveillance, nor is there a single need. But Axis TIPs offer our ecosystem compatible hardware and software, enabling system integrators to build bespoke solutions that can go beyond security. Today’s network cameras are now being used as powerful sensors on site, capturing millions of data points every second and giving our partners the opportunity to build around a great data advantage.
Axis TIPs are supported in their efforts by the AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP). A core part of the Axis ecosystem, ACAP gives developers the ability to create applications which run directly on Axis camera hardware. Operating on the network edge means these applications can take advantage of a standardised processing platform for maximum compatibility, access all key features of Axis hardware, and benefit from the security, efficiency and immediacy of running directly in-camera.
Freedom to develop means ACAP offers access to one of the widest portfolios of analytics in the security industry. Axis open ecosystem and standardised platform means it offers system integrators access to a portfolio of applications like no other. TIPs join Axis in making this happen, as the ACAP catalogue has been built and supported by over 700 global technology partners worldwide.
The freedom to choose
A coherent ecosystem means wider choice. Axis partner Integra, for example, employed a number of secondary security applications built to integrate with the AXIS Camera Station VMS when contracted to upgrade the legacy analogue cameras of Tblisi’s Merani Office Building. When settling on a license plate recognition solution, Integra had numerous options from Axis and beyond – eventually it found the best fit in software from Axis TIP FF Group.
Merani got the solution it was looking for, and Integra the choice it needed, because working with Axis offers access to a far wider ecosystem, and the freedom to develop solutions that fit perfectly. Whether it’s a different VMS, a set of third-party analytics, or integration with hardware and sensors beyond the Axis portfolio, there are partners that can provide it.
Unique abilities
Other TIPs have been able to build custom solutions with Axis hardware at the centre. Belgian safety expert Araani, developing fire and smoke detection systems for critical business environments, opted to target its development on devices featuring Axis Lightfinder technology. The company’s analytics innovation allows for visual identification of smoke and flames before a traditional detector would be able to react, while Lightfinder allows its software to function reliably even in difficult lighting conditions.
The Axis ecosystem is your advantage when building unique applications. Araani’s packages, built on ACAP, are compatible by default with a broad selection of camera options, both existing and still to come. The same is true of audio analytics from another Axis TIP, Sound Intelligence, which allows users to detect and respond to specific sounds, helping to alert operators to aggression, window breakages, or disasters.
Working as one
The Axis advantage is felt by every part of the ecosystem. ACAP provides the means for system integrators to design and deploy solutions featuring advanced functionality built by our TIPs, without sacrificing security or using additional and otherwise redundant devices. TIPs themselves get clear, documented access to Axis hardware and firmware, enabling them to create, support and upgrade applications and hardware solutions knowing they will be compatible. End users can add additional functionality as it is required, choosing from the widest range of options in the industry.
The Axis open ecosystem is your advantage. A culture of partnership and collaboration has amplified innovation, enabling one of the biggest collaborative R&D operations in technology today. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer world – and our doors are always open to new partners and new innovations.
