• Some vendors misrepresent their data policies as open and interoperable when in reality, they lock in their customers’ data.
• Non-interoperable police tech can hinder interagency collaboration, slow down investigations, and cause other long-term consequences for law enforcement agencies.
• Public safety leaders must protect their agencies by learning about the importance of interoperability and how to advocate for a better data experience.

Data-driven police agencies have access to more information than ever. To solve a single case, officers often leverage multiple sources, such as automated license plate recognition (LPR) systems, surveillance cameras, and drone technology. In theory, having more data makes it easier to find relevant insights and close cases. But in reality, each system has its own way of gathering, storing, and managing data, leaving officers sorting through multiple platforms to piece together a clear narrative.

The solution? Interoperable systems. When different systems, devices, and applications work together smoothly, they’re considered “interoperable.” Interoperable systems reduce friction, allowing personnel to search, move, and manipulate their data freely, even in third-party platforms.

However, not all vendors are committed to interoperability. Some even claim to practice data openness, but in reality, they limit customers’ access to their own data. And as agencies become more reliant on technology, this issue is becoming more prevalent, especially among LPR vendors.

In an increasingly competitive vendor landscape with companies vying for public funds, law enforcement leaders must know how to identify trustworthy technology partners. Without adequately understanding data ownership, agencies risk getting locked into siloed systems, which can hinder performance and ultimately impact public safety.

The vendor lock-in problem

Vendor lock-in occurs when companies intentionally limit customers’ ability to access, move, and manipulate their data between platforms. These vendors might restrict customers from accessing or exporting data, charge premium fees for third-party integrations, or make it prohibitively difficult to switch to another provider.

This issue even exists among vendors that advertise “open APIs,” which facilitate easy data exchanges between platforms. Some companies, commonly LPR vendors, claim customers can integrate their data with third-party platforms. But they actually restrict which types of data users can replicate in other platforms, limiting agencies’ access to the data they should own.

In these situations, vendor lock-in poses a real threat to public safety agencies. Negative outcomes include:

• Limiting or preventing collaboration among agencies to solve cross-jurisdictional crimes
• Slowing down investigations with constant context switching and manual data analysis
• Trapping agencies in a cycle of inefficient, expensive solutions
• Blurring the lines of data ownership and data use

To avoid these pitfalls, law enforcement leaders must learn how to spot non-interoperable vendors and demand data ownership policies that protect their agencies.

The case for open and interoperable police tech

When vendors prevent agencies from integrating their data, they burden already-strained resources. Data stored across siloed systems might be redundant, stale, or inaccurate. Personnel are left manually searching through disparate sources, forced into a more complicated and time-consuming process to find meaningful insights.

Interoperable systems, on the other hand, allow data to be integrated, searched, and analyzed seamlessly alongside information from other systems. An effective integration platform unifies disparate datasets, allowing agencies to view, filter, and visualize all of their data at a glance. Streamlined data integration improves efficiency, enables better resource allocation, and enhances interagency collaboration.

While data integration is valuable at any scale, it’s especially critical for complex incidents. When multiple agencies work together in fast-paced scenarios, they need a common operating picture. First responders need immediate access to real-time, usable data, without having to jump through hoops. When vendors limit customers’ ability to share or access their data on third-party platforms, they impede agencies’ situational awareness, response times, and efficacy.

What you can do now

As a law enforcement leader, you have the power to advocate for interoperability in police tech and push your current vendors to adopt open data policies. While some vendors already embrace data democratization, others need external pressure.

Likewise, when shopping for new tech solutions, prioritize interoperable companies. Ask the right questions to understand how potential vendors intend to use your data, and be wary of vague answers. If you’re ready to take action to protect your agency’s data and invest in long-term solutions, our e-book can help.

Our e-book, “Own Your Data: Interoperability and the Risks of Vendor Lock-In,” delivers straightforward explanations, practical tips, and relevant insights to help you navigate vendor relationships and data policies. You’ll learn how:

• Non-interoperable tech providers — including ALPR vendors — hinder investigations and interagency collaboration
• Interoperable data practices streamline lead generation and improve outcomes for public safety agencies
• To identify vendors that may lock in your agency’s data, even if they’re trying to sell a different story
• To demand more from ALPR and other police tech vendors to improve your agency’s data experience

At Peregrine, we advocate for transparent practices and rightful data ownership. We’re committed to removing unnecessary roadblocks that prevent public safety agencies from fully accessing and actioning their data. If you aren’t sure where to start, our team can help.

Contact us to discuss your current data roadblocks, learn how to approach interoperability conversations with your vendors, and uncover your next steps toward interconnected, data-driven policing. Download our e-book for more information on open data policies, how to identify non-interoperable vendors, and advocating for data democratization.