How to Prepare Your Organization for a Pelco and Samsara Site Visibility Project

A Samsara Site Visibility deployment with Pelco cameras involves several parties, but some of the most important groundwork happens inside the organization itself. The team that knows the site, manages the network, and will use the system every day holds information that shapes the camera plan, the installation schedule, and how the system is configured.

Having that information ready before the project begins helps the site assessment move quickly and keeps installation on schedule. It also means the system is set up around how the organization operates from the first day it goes live.

Who Handles What

A Site Visibility project with Pelco cameras brings together four parties, and each one is responsible for a different part of the system. Understanding those roles makes it easier to see where the organization’s own preparation fits in:

• Samsara: Provides the Site Visibility platform, including the Site Gateway, the dashboard and mobile app, cloud video storage, and platform updates.

• Pelco: Designs and manufactures the cameras, along with the camera firmware and the manufacturer warranty.

• SCVS: Runs the deployment, including the site assessment, camera selection, hardware and licensing orders, scheduling and coordination, installation, setup in the Samsara platform, training, and support after go-live. Depending on where a site is located, installation is handled by SCVS’s own installers or by a certified installation partner.

• Your team: Brings knowledge of the site and its goals, manages the network, decides who has access, and uses the system day to day.

The organization’s part of the project starts well before installation day.

Define What You Need to See

Camera placement and model selection depend on what the organization wants the system to accomplish. Before the site assessment, it helps to gather the following:

• The areas that need coverage, such as gates, yards, fuel islands, loading docks, equipment storage, and building entrances.

• The problems the system should help address, such as theft, vandalism, damage claims, or safety incidents.

• Operating hours and lighting conditions, including areas that are dark or unstaffed overnight.

• Any existing cameras or recording equipment on site.

• The people who will need to review footage and how often they will need it.

SCVS uses this information during the site assessment to recommend camera placement and select Pelco models suited to each area, from wide views of open yards to closer views of entry points.

Bring Your Network Administrator in Early

The Site Gateway connects to the organization’s network and sends camera video to the Samsara cloud, so the person who manages the network should be part of the project from the start. Samsara supports a few network setups, and the right one depends on how the site’s network is built today. The network administrator can help confirm:

• Whether the cameras will share the organization’s main network or run on a separate camera network, which the Site Gateway can manage on its own.

• Whether the gateway will receive its network address automatically or use a fixed address.

• That the gateway has outbound internet access through the firewall on the ports Samsara requires.

• A location for the gateway near an existing network switch with power available, such as a server room or network closet.

• Any internal security policies or approvals that apply to new devices on the network.

Confirming these details before installation gives SCVS what it needs to plan the network side of the deployment and avoids delays on installation day.

Prepare the Site for Installation

Installation goes more smoothly when the crew arrives with clear access and the right information. Ahead of the scheduled date, the organization can:

• Name an on-site contact who can provide access and answer questions during the installation.

• Share any site safety requirements, badging, escorts, or access restrictions.

• Identify available power and existing cable paths, along with any poles, buildings, or structures that can be used for mounting.

• Note times when certain areas are busy or off limits, such as shift changes or delivery windows.

For organizations with more than one location, gathering this information for each site keeps scheduling consistent across the project, especially when installations are completed by different crews in different regions.

Decide Who Gets Access

Samsara’s roles and permissions control who can view live video, review recorded footage, and receive alerts. SCVS configures these settings during setup, and the organization decides how they should be applied:

• Which people or departments need access to which sites or cameras.

• Who can view live video and who can review or share recorded footage.

• Who should receive alerts and for which events.

• Any requirements for how long footage needs to be kept.

Settling these decisions before configuration means the system is ready for each team to use once it goes live.

Plan for Training and Ongoing Ownership

Once the system is configured and verified, SCVS provides training and documentation so the team can begin using it right away. Before training, the organization should identify:

• The people who will attend training, including anyone responsible for reviewing footage or managing users.

• An internal owner for the system who will be the main point of contact going forward.

After go-live, the team continues to work with SCVS for help using the system, camera warranty issues, additional equipment, and license renewals. Samsara continues to deliver software updates, and the dashboard shows when a camera or gateway goes offline so the team knows when something needs attention.

How SCVS Supports Your Deployment

SCVS is Samsara’s recommended partner for Pelco camera deployments, handling the purchase, installation, and servicing of cameras for Site Visibility customers. Each project is assigned a project manager who serves as the organization’s main contact and keeps everyone informed as the work moves from planning through go-live.

Our installation work is carried out by our own installers and certified installation partners in other parts of the country, so a project that spans several locations runs under one plan with one point of contact. We define the scope, coordinate the installation crews, work directly with Samsara and Pelco, and remain accountable for the finished system.

Getting Started

Preparing ahead of time helps a Site Visibility deployment move from planning to go-live without unnecessary delays, and it means the finished system reflects how the organization operates. Gathering coverage goals, involving the network administrator early, and deciding on access before configuration all give the project a strong starting point.

If you are planning a Site Visibility deployment, we offer a free discovery call to walk through what your team will need. Connect with our team to get started.