Picture factories humming with machines that “see” and diagnose defects, surgeons receiving real-time guidance from computer vision (CV)-powered digital assistants, or self-driving cars navigating complex urban environments. This is the exciting future that CV promises. Fueled by the twin engines of booming data volumes and ever-evolving deep learning algorithms, this technology rapidly transforms industries and propels innovation across diverse landscapes. Two distinct yet complementary trends are shaping this dynamic space: 1) the rise of horizontal CV capabilities offering versatile functionalities across industries and 2) the emergence of vertical CV capabilities tailored to unique domain challenges and use cases. While the former promises breadth, the latter ensures depth. So where does one go when seeking the ideal CV platform? Our newly published Forrester Wave™ evaluation shows that buyers must look for CV platforms that offer a combination of both.
CV platform providers craft or assist users in developing algorithms, tools, and solutions that enable computers to see, analyze, and make sense of visual information. From recognizing faces in a crowd to getting insights from videos and images, these providers are the architects behind the scenes, building the bridges between pixels and purpose.
CV technology buyers should look for CV platforms that:
- Provide robust horizontal capabilities. When considering CV platforms, assessing the robustness of their generic, horizontal capabilities is imperative. CV platform buyers must consider these foundational features to ensure that their specialized applications are reliable, accurate, and efficient. Customers should seek platforms that can handle diverse visual data types and offer superior image and video analysis, object detection, and real-time processing capabilities. Additionally, they should look for vendors that allow them to fine-tune or even build custom models from scratch, ensuring adaptability to specific use cases and data nuances.
- Provide in-depth industry-specific solutions. The evaluation must then pivot to the depth and relevance of the CV platform’s vertical, industry-specific capabilities. If your needs are sector-specific, consider how well these solutions align with your unique industry challenges, the flexibility of customization options, and the platform’s ability to integrate seamlessly with existing tools and workflows. This scrutiny ensures that the chosen platform can meet your current needs with better and more accurate results and adapt to future industry trends and challenges.
- Offer support and community. A thriving developer community and readily accessible support are invaluable assets. Developer communities are great assistants when a CV developer faces any technical issues, while readily accessible support ensures that any technical problems encountered during the development, deployment, or operation of CV applications can be quickly addressed. Buyers should thoroughly evaluate the provider’s support, development roadmap, and community engagement. Scrutinize the availability and quality of technical support, the frequency of updates and platform enhancements, and the vibrancy of the provider’s developer and user community. A vendor that is actively involved with its user base and committed to ongoing improvements is more likely to offer a solution that remains cutting-edge and relevant.
Forrester Can Help You Navigate This Exciting Future
Overall, the future of computer vision technology looks exciting. As technology advances and the world changes, industries must adapt, and we at Forrester stand ready to help with a wide range of research on computer vision that can assist you in shaping your future.
Forrester clients can download the Wave report to see our evaluation of computer vision technology providers and plan for CV-enabled solutions. They can also connect with me through an inquiry or guidance session to discuss computer vision technology and any associated topics.
