VOLT Integration, Implementation, and Cost: Commonly Asked Questions from Colleges & Universities

Weapon detection, fights, medical emergencies (person down), unauthorized access, loitering, unusual crowd formations, and theft. The system provides real-time alerts for all these scenarios.

The system includes human verification through VOLT's Security Operations Center (VSOC). Every alert is reviewed by trained operators before being sent to campus security, eliminating false alarm fatigue.

Yes. Real-time tracking was a key differentiator for Brandon: "Nobody else had that... what's the point if you detect something, but I don't know where they went."

Pricing is transparent and available on VOLT's website, calculated per camera stream. Colin noted it's "rare" for customers to say they're too expensive, and most are surprised by "how much they get for the price."

UIC saw significant savings by reducing third-party security costs. Demetrius calculated roughly $236,000 per year per 24/7 security position at $27/hour, compared to VOLT's per-camera pricing. They cut their third-party security needs "basically in half."

Focus on multiple use cases beyond just weapon detection: medical emergencies, fight detection, crowd monitoring, unauthorized access, and theft prevention. This daily utility helps justify the investment even if major incidents don't occur.

Focus on high-priority areas based on stakeholder needs. UIC involved parking and events planning departments. Consider areas with highest foot traffic, previous incidents, or valuable assets.

The system scales for various campus sizes. Maryville (smaller, private) uses it differently than UIC (large, urban campus), but both see significant value.

VOLT integrates with current VMS systems and can automatically notify law enforcement through RapidSOS. Custom escalation chains can be configured based on incident type and severity.

Brandon's advice: "Decide what's most important to you on your campus with your camera systems." VOLT typically offers something valuable to all stakeholders - security, administration, and budget-conscious leadership.

Demetrius recommends testing thoroughly: "Don't judge it. Test the system... run it through, see how far the concepts there." However, some institutions like Maryville moved forward without a formal pilot based on their evaluation of other solutions.

Emphasize multiple benefits: student safety, operational efficiency, liability reduction, cost savings, and the competitive advantage of having cutting-edge security technology that can be used in marketing to prospective students and parents.

Both universities discovered issues they didn't know existed - unauthorized gym access, problems with dorm security, equipment theft, and facilities maintenance issues. The system often reveals unknown security gaps.

Acts as a "force multiplier" - Maryville's Brandon noted it turns "11 officers total in our department to 411 sets of eyes." Helps optimize resource allocation and reduces need for constant human monitoring.

Officers appreciate getting accurate, real-time information instead of conflicting eyewitness descriptions. The system eliminates guesswork and speeds up investigations significantly.

No. The system uses behavioral analysis, clothing descriptions, and movement patterns instead of facial recognition or biometrics. This was crucial for both UIC (where facial recognition is restricted by Illinois law) and Maryville (where staff and faculty had privacy concerns).

The system only monitors existing cameras in public spaces where there's no expectation of privacy. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and VOLT maintains SOC2 Type 2 compliance.