The true cost of owning a construction camera goes beyond a price tag. Along with the camera and equipment, it’s essential to consider not only features, support and pricing — but how much of your time and energy you’re willing to “pay” to install or troubleshoot cameras on your own.
In order to guarantee a return on your investment, start by considering how much a lack of visibility from a camera costs you.
- How many days does your team spend on the road, traveling to jobsites?
- How many teams and corporate partners need to stay connected to the site from anywhere?
- How much easier would it be to review progress in seconds, rather than in more meetings?
A construction camera costs only as much as it doesn’t solve for. Among industry-leaders, the cameras provide answers for a variety of issues. Take KDC as an example, the Texas-based developers have used construction cameras for 15 years, stating the value is “worth its weight in gold” and “doesn’t make an impact on costs.” For Peachtree Hotel Group, the 24/7 visibility ensured several thousands of dollars were saved when a break-in was captured on camera. General contractors at Juneau state that the cameras help keep clients informed and reassured projects are on time while helping the team monitor progress with ease.
This type of value from jobsite cameras varies just as much as the pricing options from different service providers. On a practical level, hardware can range from $200 - $20,000 and the differences are more than just the quality of the camera itself.
DIY options, like using an off-the-shelf smart camera, claim quick and easy setup and instant visibility, but there’s a reason for the bargain deal. Often these low-cost solutions require extensive manual labor to ensure set up, removal, refurbishment and replacement as the job continues. While one camera may be at a lower cost, each feature is typically an extra charge.
| DIY Overview |
OxBlue Overview |
- Set-up service not included
- Low coverage warranty
- Pay per user
- Add-on WiFi or cellular service
- Control the camera through your phone
- Connect camera views manually
- Upcharge for backup power
- Upcharge for protective weather-proof case
- Upcharge for lighting for image clarity
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- Comprehensive service and installation offerings
- Lifetime warranty
- Unlimited users along with public access options
- Guaranteed cellular internet connection
- Control the camera from your phone, laptop or tablet
- 24/7 power monitoring
- Built to withstand weather and construction debris
- Automatic camera adjustments for lighting
- Access all camera views in one place, no additional setup required
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Many service companies may claim straightforward pricing — but may be hiding monthly fees for software, installation or other services. These budget-friendly options traditionally mean a one-size-fits-all approach and locked-in contracts that leave you in the dark with little to no flexibility.
| Monthly Subscription Leasing Option |
OxBlue Leasing Option |
- Locked-in contract terms
- Cancellation and service interruption fees
- Limited solar or wireless options
- One-size-fits-all camera model
- Additional fee for project management system integrations
- Add-on “service reports” for power monitoring
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- Contracts based on your needs
- No charges if you forgot to cancel — pay for what you use
- Several camera options based on build types
- Wireless, cellular and solar compatibility with all cameras
- 24/7 smart camera management included to monitor power supply, image obstruction and cellular service
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It’s important to remember that what may seem like a leading-solution for others may not be the best for construction projects. CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras are widely used for general security to deter theft and are designed for general surveillance. However, they often lack extensive security features, rely on hard-wired power-sources and localized review of the footage. CCTV providers who offer a digital cloud service typically don’t monitor their data servers, making them vulnerable to hacking. However, with the right construction camera, many of the benefits of CCTV, like motion detection, may already be included.
| CCTV Cameras |
OxBlue Cameras |
- Active monitoring through 3rd party service subscription
- Motion detection included
- Power source required
- Limited on-camera data storage
- Low-resolution photos and video
- No jobsite data
- Minimal data security
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- Automatic activity, safety and weather tracking
- Motion detection included
- Wireless and solar options for all cameras
- Lifetime storage and image archival
- High-resolution images and HD video streams
- IP restriction options
- Secure logins and 2-factor authentication
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What’s needed for a skyscraper rarely will align with what’s needed for an interior renovation. Leading service providers will take into account the size of the jobsite, the scope of the project, length of the build and what views you’re trying to capture. A quality service provider knows that flexibility must be built-in, as things constantly change on site. With OxBlue, there’s a stark difference.
| Other Construction Camera Companies |
OxBlue |
- Charge for additional features
- Contracts with cancellation fees
- Limited warranties
- Limited camera options and resolutions
- Image comparison
- Weather data
- No custom notifications
- Standard time-lapses
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- Software upgrades included
- Pay for what you use, with no cancellation fees
- Lifetime warranties on most cameras
- Lifetime data storage and image archival
- USA-based customer service
- Extensive data security protocols
- Live photo & streaming video
- Historical views by date & time
- Multi-camera dashboard & hybrid map views
- Past & present weather data with every image
- On-demand time-lapse creation
- HD, 4K Professional time-lapses with every project
- Automated reporting & scheduled updates
- Email, markup and social media sharing tools
- Motion Detection video cameras
- AI Activity tracking
- AI Safety analysis
- AI Notifications
- AI Image Search
- AI Smart camera management (inactivity, obstructions, etc.)
- AI Equipment tracking (coming)
- AI Multi-project analytics (coming)
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Camera providers can be critical partners for jobsite documentation. With busy teams, it’s not always possible to take the time and coordinate installation, setup and long-term camera management. This means customer support is crucial to ensuring you’re getting what you need from your camera. Many providers off-set customer service through third-parties abroad or “smart” chat apps that can only guess what you need help with. OxBlue takes a different approach and acts as your partner throughout the process. Our team are in-house experts and handle everything from shipping, installation, relocations, power, user setup and so much more.
Ultimately, the way to guarantee good service is to look at all features and benefits to ensure you get what works for your project.
