March Networks is a Canadian company (now part of Motorola Solutions) that provides intelligent video management systems with AI-powered analytics for retail, banking, and convenience sectors. Their Searchlight platform integrates POS data with video to identify exceptions and patterns through automated analysis.
DohShield takes a fundamentally different approach: trained human reviewers watch your POS exceptions correlated with video footage every day and deliver findings as evidence packages.
This comparison explores the human audit vs. AI analytics debate and helps you determine which approach fits your operation.
Human Audit vs. AI Analytics: The Core Debate
The loss prevention industry is divided on this question. AI proponents argue that algorithms can process more data, faster, and never get tired. Human audit proponents argue that trained eyes catch contextual patterns — behavioral cues, body language, timing patterns — that current AI technology misses.
The truth is nuanced:
- AI is better at volume. An algorithm can flag every void, every no-sale, every refund across 100 locations in seconds. A human reviewer can't.
- Humans are better at context. A void might be legitimate (customer changed their mind) or suspicious (cashier voided after the customer left). The video tells the story, but interpreting body language and context requires human judgment.
- AI produces more false positives. Automated systems flag everything that matches a pattern, which means LP staff must still review the alerts. If you don't have LP staff, those alerts pile up unreviewed.
- Humans deliver actionable evidence. When a DohShield reviewer identifies a theft pattern, the deliverable is a complete evidence package ready for termination proceedings — not a list of flagged transactions that someone still needs to investigate.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DohShield | March Networks |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Human-reviewed daily audit | AI-powered video analytics |
| Daily POS + Video Audit | Included | Automated alerts only |
| AI / Machine Learning | Not primary approach | Core technology |
| Investigation-Ready Evidence | Delivered to you | Self-compiled from platform |
| False Positive Rate | Low (human-filtered) | Higher (algorithm-based) |
| Hardware Required | Uses existing cameras | March Networks NVR + cameras |
| Video Storage | Evidence clips retained | Full cloud + local hybrid |
| LP Staff Required | No — service IS the LP | Yes — to review alerts |
| Contract Terms | Month-to-month | Multi-year typical |
| Best For | Operators without LP staff wanting done-for-you auditing | Operators with LP teams wanting powerful analytics tools |
Pricing and Total Cost of Ownership
March Networks doesn't publish pricing publicly, and costs vary significantly based on hardware requirements, camera count, and analytics modules. Industry estimates suggest:
- March Networks NVR hardware: $2,000-$5,000+ per location
- Camera system (if new): $3,000-$10,000+ depending on coverage needs
- Searchlight analytics platform: $200-$500+/month per location (estimated)
- Installation: $1,000-$3,000 per location
- Total first-year cost (5 locations, estimated): $45,000-$100,000+
DohShield's transparent pricing:
- No hardware purchase required — uses existing cameras
- $299-$499/month per location depending on transaction volume
- Total first-year cost (5 locations at Gold): $22,740
The Bottom Line
March Networks is a sophisticated technology platform that puts powerful AI analytics tools in the hands of loss prevention professionals. DohShield is a managed service that functions as your outsourced loss prevention department.
If you have LP staff and want to give them the best tools available, March Networks is worth evaluating. If you don't have LP staff and want someone to do the daily auditing for you — delivering actionable findings rather than alerts to review — DohShield is the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither is universally "better" — they solve different parts of the problem. AI excels at scale and speed. Humans excel at context and judgment. The ideal loss prevention program combines both: automated flagging of exceptions plus human review for confirmation and evidence building. DohShield uses automated exception identification as a first pass, then applies human review for context and evidence packaging.
Yes. If you have March Networks cameras already installed, DohShield can typically work with your existing camera infrastructure. You'd retain the physical cameras for general surveillance while DohShield handles the daily POS + video audit service. Contact us for a compatibility assessment.
Based on our internal data, approximately 25-30% of confirmed incidents identified by DohShield reviewers involve behavioral patterns that current AI systems wouldn't flag — situations where the POS transaction looks normal but the video reveals concerning behavior (e.g., a cashier not scanning specific items, giving unauthorized discounts verbally, or manipulating the timing of voids).