Axis Communications, the leading manufacturer of network security and surveillance solutions, has released its first annual Axis Perspectives Report. The publication brings together global research, expert input and real-world examples to explore how intelligent IP cameras are evolving beyond traditional surveillance into an increasingly embedded component of operational infrastructure, supporting security, safety and wider business performance.

While security remains the primary driver, the report shows a marked expansion in how video systems are being used. Use of video for business intelligence has nearly doubled in one year, rising from 20% to 38%, while 42% of organisations now use video to support operational efficiency. Video is increasingly a source of real-time data that informs broader operational decisions.

This shift is especially relevant in South Africa, where organisations operate in a high-risk security environment while also accelerating digital transformation. Large retail estates, logistics hubs, campuses and public infrastructure sites are often distributed across wide geographic areas and managed with constrained resources. As more operational systems move onto connected networks, security leaders are under pressure to strengthen physical protection while also managing cyber risk. Intelligent video is increasingly seen as a practical way to improve site visibility, support safer environments and deliver operational insight from existing infrastructure.

The report highlights how intelligent video is being used beyond security, including in industrial environments. One example is BMW Group’s use of high-resolution cameras to support AI-driven quality inspection (AIQX) across its iFACTORY facilities. By capturing detailed images in real time, the system helps automate inspections, reduce errors and improve operational efficiency. Examples like this show why many organisations are starting to see video as more than a security tool.

“Video is assuming a new, heightened role in business operations as more and more industries recognise it as a source for data and insight,” said Rudie Opperman, Engineering and Training Manager, MEA at Axis Communications. “Axis Perspectives enables us to track that evolution and explore how organisations take a strategic view towards video technologies. Those technologies have the potential to add value above and beyond physical security and monitoring, and as they take further hold across South Africa’s business landscape, they not only demonstrate their efficacy, but also how intelligent video systems become a competitive advantage.”

Key findings from the Axis Perspectives Report 2026 include:

• Security and safety remain the strongest drivers: Security is still the primary purpose of video systems for 89% of end customers, while 81% prioritise safety.
• Video is now driving business value: Use of video for business intelligence has nearly doubled in one year, rising from 20% to 38%, while 42% now use video to support operational efficiency.
• Cybersecurity is now a top concern: 44% of end customers say cybersecurity and data protection will be a key priority over the next one to three years, reinforcing the need to treat connected cameras as part of wider cyber risk planning.
• Customers want simpler, joined-up systems: 41% say bringing different security systems into one platform is a top focus, as organisations look to reduce complexity and improve visibility across sites.
• Cloud adoption is accelerating: Cloud use in physical security is expected to rise from 27% to 44% within two years.
• Infrastructure upgrades are still a key driver: 64% of end users say modernising infrastructure is a leading reason for investing in video, as organisations look for systems that are easier to manage and more secure.

For South African organisations, the implications are clear. Video is becoming part of everyday business systems, and the choices made now will shape security, risk and how smoothly sites are run in the future.

The report also introduces a five-stage maturity model to help organisations assess their current capabilities and future direction. It outlines a progression from passive recording systems to reactive and proactive systems powered by AI, through to predictive and autonomous environments where cameras can analyse patterns and trigger actions with minimal human intervention.

Axis Perspectives is designed to help organisations understand what is changing in intelligent video, what it means in practice and what to plan for next. With nearly three decades of innovation in network video, Axis continues to support customers and partners with technology and insight that helps build safer, smarter environments.

The full Axis Perspectives Report 2026 is available here.