Designed and developed by Bosch Security Systems to assist system integrators, the Project Assistant app is available to download for free from various App stores for installation on desktop, tablet and smartphone devices, and works on Apple, Windows and Google platforms. We wanted it to be accessible to everyone, because everyone should be benefiting from the control, transparency and efficiency made possible by the Project Assistant app at every phase of a video security project.
Now, project set-up and pre-configuration can start in the office without the physical camera. Only the project plans, IP addresses and a password from the client are required for the system integrator to create a new project via the app (or an Excel-compatible file format), with the option to set up per camera, or multiple cameras at once.
A helpful time-saving feature of the Project Assistant app is the ability to automatically enter the information for each camera in the project. Further information like camera name and location can also be added via the app without the need for the cameras to be physically present. Creating a set of virtual cameras within the app eliminates the need for unboxing and re-boxing of products for labelling and pre-configuration in the system integrator’s office, and has been found to deliver significant time savings of up to 30%.
Once the cameras are physically installed on site and connected to a network, they’re ready to be matched to the virtual cameras set up in the Project Assistant app (via Wi-Fi or cable connection to the same network). By simply scanning a QR code from the camera box, on the outside of the Bosch camera, or the sticker sheet inside the box, the MAC address of the camera is identified and assigned to a specific virtual camera in the app. This action writes the pre-defined settings in the Project Assistant app directly to the camera. Once the pre-defined settings are uploaded, the system integrator can set up the field of view, adjust image sharpness and apply additional camera settings if required.
The Project Assistant app is not only designed to support the management of a video security project at every step, it makes final reporting easier too, because every camera can be contacted, checked and reported in a matter of seconds. A final client-ready report is then delivered minutes later, complete with field of view snapshots. Also, projects set-up in the app can be shared via the Cloud across multiple stakeholders, providing them with connectivity and transparency by giving each one the opportunity to access a clear, detailed overview of the status at any time during the project.
The Bosch Project Assistant app makes project planning, pre-configuration, commissioning and reporting more efficient, so every video security project is faster, more controllable, and transparent. Overall, it’s the smart way to plan a video security project.
