Anyone have any recomendations on software to manage multi locations?
Client has 4 locations and wants to be able to monitor and playback recordings.

He does not need to see all locations at the same time

HIK Vision IP cameras and NVR's

You can do that with hikvision. Just load the ivms software on a pc and add the 4 locations to it.

I failed to mention he does not like the IVMS software and it fails alot he is telling me

Then he might want to consider another brand of camera & NVR. But be warned they all look & work similar in one way or another. So realistically, there probably isn't any software he is going to like. (maybe try Synology next?)
He just needs to learn how to use it.
There are plenty of re-badges he can try that will work with the Hikvision. All the software is free to download, so he can try one after another until he gives up. Or maybe finds one that he likes, if it's a cosmetic thing (again, because they all work similar feature wise).

To the response of "it fails alot". There is nothing wrong with the software (other than being bloated & kludgy). So he has issues he needs to address with his computer. Does he have a fast enough processor? Enough RAM? GPU? Is he trying to run other things on this computer while he uses the software?

He can't just pick some old laptop out of the recycle bin and think he's going to run this software on it. It is pretty demanding. In fact VERY demanding, depending on the amount of cameras viewing at once and the settings.

I once had a guy with an old PC trying to view an old 32 camera system. It was a high spec computer he spent several thousand $ on but that was 5 years old now. It was struggling with the 32 cameras, since non of the old cams had a 2nd stream (also no H265 available).
He refused to understand how he couldn't use his computer (doing intensive work by itself) while the software ran on a 2nd screen. Open task manger and his CPU, RAM & GPU all were being red lined!!!

Synology would be my vote. Very easy to use apps and software.

Thanks everyone

Lippa,
Is this a software application that will work with existing NVR's?

It's an application that runs on a Synology NAS. Every NAS comes with 2 free IP Camera licenses, but then need to purchase separate licenses for each additional camera.

A lot of people balk at this type of setup, but it almost always works out to be cheaper than a boxed NVR from other manufacturers. Plus, you can use whatever hard drives suit you best. They also have HDMI/VGA capable decoders that only need an Ethernet connection and a monitor, so extending HDMI from the NVR is gone out the window.

The provided apps are very user friendly and easy to manage between different properties. Remote capability for desktop PC/Mac and apps, without port forwarding.

You can also get the extra benefits that a NAS offers, like remote backups to a different location.

My largest system currently is a 43 Flir camera setup at a storage facility. 4 monitors each with a decoder to view all cameras on the system. Customer is ecstatic over the simplicity and no more dying 8 channel NVR's (how it was originally setup).

Is he looking to do his viewing from an app or PC/Mac?  I find the HIK app pretty easy to use and you can easily have all properties pull up in the app as if one site.

HI windows laptop
Thanks

When you say HIK software, do you mean the IVMS or the HIK Central Management software?

if he is having issues, it is more likely an issue with connectivity vs PC specs. Not that PC specs don't matter, but a healthy upload connection for each site is a must!!!! if he is wanting fluid operation and the remote sites are working with 1mbps upload, the result will be exactly what he has. scrubbing through video over a remote connection is painful without bandwidth.

You know, I totally didn't even think about the 'remote' aspect of this. Was stuck on local network in my mind.

Ed is correct, without great upload speeds and great latency (with no packet loss) there is no chance of your customer having a smooth experience with this.
So... how good is the ISP at each location?

First, welcome to Remote Central. Second, read Post 3.

The most effective way to accomplish viewing on multiple Monitors and Motherboard
is by using a HDMI splitter or VGA splitter. Specifically, a splitter-amplifier which will guarantee full signal strength to multiple outputs. The correct splitter will be powered, rather than a stand alone splitter (non-powered) which is not effective.

The Luma VMS software will work with Hik...

I will say that I'm not sure if the Luma VMS and the Hik VMS are the same, for all I know they're identical software. And I will also say that I think the Luma VMS software is a turd...

BUT, it might be better than the Hik, and your customer may like it. Just throwing it out there as it might work.

The Luma is just a rebanded Hikvision software from "Snap One" as they call themselves now