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Cetras Transitions Business Model to Promote Drive Recorder Footage Utilization

Cetras, a leading company in the utilization of drive recorder footage, has announced a significant shift in its business strategy. The company, which has been focused on creating a safer society through its motto, "Gathering the eyes of guardians for a crime-free society," is now departing from its platform operations to dedicate itself to supporting businesses that wish to enter the field of drive recorder footage utilization. This decision comes in light of the recent advancements in AI technology and the exploration of new applications for drive recorder footage.

Cetras previously operated the Citizen Entry Type Record Application System (CETRAS), designed to foster community participation in crime prevention by positioning drive recorders as "moving security cameras." However, recognizing the diverse potential of drive recorder footage beyond mere surveillance, the company aims to provide support in three main categories for enterprises interested in leveraging this valuable resource.

Overview of Cetras Support Initiatives

Cetras identifies two primary starting points for utilizing drive recorder footage: footage captured from the perspective of the recorder and from the perspective of those needing the footage. Every day, a vast amount of footage is recorded, much of which holds potential value beyond the original driver's context. By efficiently extracting these valuable clips and making them accessible to interested parties, Cetras envisions a sustainable business model.

Addressing the Challenges of Footage Utilization

One of the significant barriers to the broader use of drive recorder footage lies in the complexity of its matching business model. General matching businesses typically operate on a three-tier structure; however, the drive recorder footage matching ecosystem presents a more intricate four-tier model.

In this model, various stakeholders, including insurance companies that offer drive recorder services, system companies for taxi dispatching, logistics management firms, and automakers managing footage from vehicle cameras, all hold rights of access to the recorder's footage. This fourth layer, referred to as the video supply layer, complicates the role of platform providers, who are responsible for aggregating footage from these suppliers to deliver it to demand sources such as law enforcement and municipalities.

Furthermore, due to the arrangement of sharing intermediate margins amongst two layers, it has been challenging to establish sufficient use cases for video utilization. This has resulted in only a limited number of video suppliers engaging with drive recorder footage.

Reasons for the Business Model Shift

Cetras has been at the forefront of seeking solutions in this space, having acquired a fundamental patent more than a decade ago that allows efficient extraction of footage shot near incident locations through time and place specifications. Despite this progress, the rapid advancement of AI technology, coupled with emerging use cases unrelated to crime, has illuminated a critical flaw in the company’s approach. Cetras's lack of licensing these essential technologies to other companies has inadvertently hindered overall industry progress in utilizing drive recorder footage.

As a result, Cetras has decided to pivot its stance by offering affordable licenses for these previously non-licensed patents starting this spring. They have already entered several licensing agreements with multiple companies eager to utilize Cetras' patented technology for their drive recorder footage, which they regard as a hidden asset.

The company anticipates a budding market worth several hundred billion yen arising from various needs, including not only public safety and disaster prevention but also in areas such as autonomous vehicle development, news material, accident response, physical AI training, tourism, and land evaluation.

Cetras is committed to fostering the formation of a new ecosystem, expecting that three to four companies will ultimately thrive in the video distribution platform space. By sharing its accumulated expertise and technological know-how, Cetras aims to swiftly support enterprises entering this domain.

For interested businesses wishing to explore support opportunities, please reach out to Cetras at [email protected] for more information.

Conclusion

Cetras's strategic transition represents a pivotal moment in the drive recorder industry, unveiling new possibilities for collaboration and innovation. As the company shifts its focus, it is poised to not only empower businesses but also enhance community safety through the effective utilization of drive recorder footage.