How Package Detection Works—And Why You Need It

Key takeaways

• Package detection is a doorbell camera feature that uses smart detection to differentiate between people and packages.
• The benefits of having a doorbell camera with package detection include reduced risk of package theft, fewer false alarms, real-time alerts, and more.
• The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro uses package detection, Smart Deter, and industry-leading features to protect your home.

Ever wondered how package detection works—or if it’s really effective? Read on to find out how the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro works to protect your packages around the clock.

If you’re like most people, you do a decent amount of online shopping. In fact, 34% of shoppers make purchases at least once a week, and over 80% shop online at least once a month. It’s easy to understand why: Busy schedules, work, and family life make the convenience of having everything from groceries to clothes delivered right to your front door.

But with that convenience comes a growing problem—porch pirates and package theft. With over 58 million packages stolen each year, more than 25% of Americans have had a package stolen from their front porch at least once.

Luckily, there are smart home devices and outdoor security cameras that can help protect your packages from theft, and the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro is a standout among them. This smart, AI-powered video doorbell camera was designed specifically to help recognize and protect your deliveries and deter burglars before they ever get close.

Read on to find out how the Doorbell Camera Pro’s package detection feature works to intelligently protect your packages.

What is package detection?

Most video doorbells use motion detection and person detection to identify movement, like a person arriving at the door or a car driving down the street. The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro goes even further with package detection, an AI-driven feature that uses smart detection to differentiate between people and objects.

Using Enhanced Computer Vision Chip AI, the Doorbell Camera Pro accurately recognizes people, packages, and vehicles, which helps to reduce notifications and false alarms from things that aren’t threats, like branches blowing in the wind or animals.

What if your delivery driver doesn’t leave packages right on the doorstep? You can create customizable detection zones that not only identify packages, but lurkers and people as well.

How does package detection work?

Here’s how the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro smart doorbell’s package detection feature works, step by step:

1. The delivery driver drops a package off at your door.
2. The Doorbell Camera Pro uses its AI technology to distinguish the package from other objects, resulting in fewer false alarms or inaccurate notifications.
3. You receive a real-time notification on your smartphone that your package has arrived.
4. You can view the live stream of your front porch right from your smartphone (or view video recordings of your footage later) and see your package.
5. If you’re home, you can go to the door and pick up your package immediately (or ask a neighbor to), leaving nothing for porch pirates to steal.
6. And if you’re not home? If you have a complete smart home security system from Vivint that includes smart locks, you have the benefit of smart home integration. With a system that includes smart door locks, you can reach out to a neighbor and ask them to put your package inside the house. When they arrive at your doorstep, the Doorbell Camera Pro’s person detection will notify you that someone is at your door. From there, you can unlock your front door right from your phone, then use the camera’s one-way video and two-way audio features to greet your neighbor and ask them to put your package inside.

With AI-powered package detection, real-time notifications, and a wide field of view for customizable zones, the Doorbell Camera Pro knows when your package arrives and immediately notifies you so you can take action.

Benefits of package detection

Wired doorbells (and even many wifi or smart doorbells) can only do so much. The best video doorbells, like the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, feature package detection, which is more than just a convenience—it’s a powerful home security camera feature that keeps you informed.

Here are some of the biggest benefits of this impressive feature:

• Reduced risk of package theft. The less time your package spends on the porch, the safer it is. With package detection and real-time notifications, you can act quickly.
• Fewer false alarms. Wireless video doorbells that lack features like facial recognition and package detection only recognize motion. This means you get motion alerts from things like passing cars, birds flying in front of your home, or even branches swaying in the breeze. Package detection means smart alerts that accurately distinguish between people, packages, and objects, so you don’t receive irrelevant alerts.
• Better awareness of who (or what) is at your front door. The Doorbell Camera Pro’s enhanced AI feature combines package detection with person detection, so you know when someone is at your door—whether they ring the bell or not.
• Real-time alerts when packages arrive. Tracking information from delivery companies can be delayed, which means you may not get an accurate delivery timeline. Real-time alerts right to your smartphone means you know right when your packages arrive—no more constantly refreshing tracking numbers or checking emails.
• Peace of mind. One survey found that the average American spends just over $500 a month on online shopping and deliveries—a lot of money to lose to theft. Package detection means greater peace of mind that your purchases are safe from porch pirates.

With multiple layers of protection and notifications that keep you connected to your home no matter where you are, package protection offers protection, convenience, and peace of mind.

How the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro keeps deliveries safe

With so many video doorbells on the market, it can be daunting to choose the best video doorbell camera. The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro is a standout with features that protect your packages and your home.

Here’s how:

Smart Deter

The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro not only notifies you when packages arrive—it’s the only smart doorbell camera that proactively protects them, too. This is all thanks to Smart Deter technology, a feature unique to Vivint cameras.

When the camera spots someone lingering on your property, around your packages, or in your motion zones, Smart Deter kicks into action, using light and sound to let porch pirates know they’ve been spotted. The camera plays a tone through the 90dB speaker, drawing the lurker’s attention to the camera, which also activates an LED light ring so they know they’re being recorded. Often, this is enough to send would-be thieves running (without your packages!).

Wide field of view and two-way audio

The Doorbell Camera Pro boasts a unique aspect ratio with a 180 x 180-degree field of view, giving you the widest viewing angle and a head-to-toe view of whoever steps foot on your porch. Additionally, the 1080p HD video feed and enhanced night vision give you a crystal clear video quality, whether you’re viewing the live stream or watching recorded video footage later.

The Doorbell Camera Pro also features two-way audio, so you can speak to whoever comes to the door, too—whether you’re asking a delivery driver to hide your package or telling a stranger to step away.

Customizable detection zones

Unlike some smart battery-powered doorbells, the Doorbell Camera Pro lets you set customizable detection zones, so you can choose the viewing area you want to monitor. This functionality works with the Enhanced Computer Vision Chip AI, helping to identify people and deliveries while preventing notifications from random movement, like passing cars or animals.

Smart home integration

The Doorbell Camera Pro works with your entire Vivint smart home ecosystem to keep your packages and home protected. When a package or person is detected or an alarm is triggered, you’ll be notified on both your Smart Hub and your Vivint app, so you never miss an important event. Cameras and sensors work in sync to record the action as it happens, giving you a record of what’s happening around your home. Compatibility also extends to smart speakers and smart assistants like Google Home’s Google Assistant, so you can control your smart home hands-free.

24/7 recording and cloud storage options

Your camera records footage around the clock, so you never miss a moment. Vivint Smart Clips also let you skip to video clips of specific events, such as package delivery or person detection, so you don’t have to sift through hours of video storage.

You also have the option of Vivint Playback DVR service, which provides up to 10 days of continuous recording from all your Vivint security cameras. This cloud storage option does require an additional subscription fee. For homeowners who have an ecosystem of Vivint cameras, it’s well worth the additional monthly fee.

Let Vivint protect your packages

The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro does more than just give you a view of your front door. It actively works to protect and notify you of everything that shows up at your doorstep, from packages to people, giving homeowners the peace of mind that their deliveries are safe and secure.

See for yourself how the Doorbell Camera Pro’s advanced features protect your home. Visit us online or give us a call at 855.822.1220 and start customizing your system today.

FAQs

Still have questions about package detection? Read some of the most common questions and answers below.

What is package detection?

Package detection is a feature of the Doorbell Camera Pro that uses AI to intelligently identify packages that are delivered to your door.

How does the Doorbell Camera Pro protect packages?

The Doorbell Camera Pro uses features like package detection, Smart Deter to identify and discourage package theft, customizable detection zones, high resolution 2K video, and integration with your Vivint Smart Home to protect packages.

Is package detection effective?

Package detection is effective thanks to object recognition and customizable monitoring zones, making it an accurate and reliable way to identify your packages. Combined with Smart Deter technology, instant notifications, and smart home compatibility, it adds multiple layers of protection to your home and deliveries.

Is the Doorbell Camera Pro a wired video doorbell or battery-powered model?

The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro is hardwired. Because it uses your existing doorbell wiring instead of a rechargeable battery, you don’t have to worry about battery life or going offline in order to charge the battery. It’s also wifi enabled, which allows you to receive notifications on your phone and Smart Hub. All Vivint systems include professional installation, so you can rest easy knowing that your cameras are installed correctly and working as they should.

Where is the camera footage stored?

The Doorbell Camera Pro has both local storage options and cloud storage options. The built-in microSD card stores continuous footage in the event your wifi goes down, and the Playback DVR option allows you to store up to 10 days of 24/7, HDR footage.