Rhombus Turns Surveillance into Spatial Intelligence with New AI Analytics Tools
Rhombus, the cloud-managed physical security firm best known for its smart camera systems, is doubling down on its mission to make video surveillance more than security. This week, the company announced the release of two powerful new AI-powered features—Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting—designed to give organizations deeper insights into how spaces are used, when people move, and how to optimize everything from staffing to site layout.
It’s part of Rhombus’ growing Operational Analytics suite, which shifts traditional video surveillance away from being a passive record-keeper and into the realm of real-time operational intelligence.
These new capabilities are now available to existing customers—with no new hardware required—and are fully integrated into Rhombus’ cloud platform and open APIs.
Line Crossing: Stop Guessing, Start Measuring
The new Line Crossing feature is all about understanding how people (or vehicles) move through your physical space. Using AI models built into Rhombus cameras, organizations can define virtual “lines” within any camera view—whether that’s a retail store entrance, an office hallway, or a factory floor—and get real-time, directional data about what’s crossing where and when.
In practical terms, that means better decisions about where to station staff, how to direct foot traffic, or when to restock a busy department. It’s also a game-changer for facilities that see high-volume throughput, like manufacturing docks or event venues.
“We built Line Crossing to answer a simple question: how are people actually using your space?” said Rickey Cox, VP of Product at Rhombus. “It removes guesswork and surfaces directional insights that impact everything from labor to layout.”
Occupancy Counting: Know Your Numbers Without the Manual Headcounts
Occupancy Counting, on the other hand, leverages AI to provide real-time estimates of how many people are in a defined area. It’s a smarter, more flexible alternative to check-in apps or headcount clickers—and it’s already proving useful in retail, gyms, campuses, and offices.
Unlike traditional counters that only track entry/exit points, Rhombus’ system constantly evaluates actual occupancy—meaning you get live, contextual insights that can inform decisions like:
- Adjusting HVAC and energy usage based on foot traffic
- Optimizing class schedules or shift rotations in gyms and service centers
- Managing room capacities for safety or compliance
And because everything’s visible through the Rhombus dashboard (or accessible via API), teams don’t need to add complexity to get smarter about how spaces are used.
Why This Matters: Security Cameras as Business Intelligence Sensors
Rhombus is part of a larger trend—one that’s redefining the role of enterprise camera systems. Where traditional surveillance is mostly reactive (watch the footage after something happens), Rhombus is pushing for proactive operational insight—using the same cameras to generate data that improves business performance.
“Video systems have long been siloed for security use only,” said Brandon Salzberg, CTO at Rhombus. “But with the right AI, those same systems can become real-time decision engines.”
This is especially valuable in industries where space is money: retail, logistics, manufacturing, and fitness centers. If you can see how a space is used in real time—and match that against traffic patterns, staffing schedules, or layout decisions—you’re no longer relying on gut instinct or after-the-fact reports.
Use Cases Across Industries
- Retail: Use Line Crossing to track entrance traffic and optimize product placements; use Occupancy Counting to identify underutilized zones.
- Manufacturing: Monitor delivery vehicle movements, avoid dock congestion, and spot slowdowns before they impact the floor.
- Fitness Centers: Adjust staff coverage and class timing based on live usage; improve safety and experience by preventing overcrowding.
- Corporate Offices: Understand which meeting rooms or work zones are over/underused to inform space planning and hybrid work strategies.
Built for the Real World—and the Systems You Already Use
Both new features work with Rhombus’ existing camera hardware—including its dome, bullet, and multisensor series—and require no additional setup beyond software activation. Reports and live trends are delivered through the Rhombus Console, with flexible API integrations that allow organizations to feed spatial data into analytics tools, dashboards, or workforce systems.
That means you’re not just getting smarter—you’re staying efficient, using the infrastructure you already have.
AI Video Analytics That Go Beyond Security
With the addition of Line Crossing and Occupancy Counting, Rhombus is officially stepping outside the guard booth. These aren’t just safety tools—they’re operational levers that give businesses live, data-backed clarity about how space and time are actually being used.
For companies looking to optimize costs, improve experiences, and adapt quickly to demand, turning passive cameras into active intelligence systems might be one of the easiest wins of the year.
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