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This research considers the technical performance of modern webcams for the remote monitoring of the inventory balance of industrial wholesale items. In this case study suppliers were technical wholesalers and the customers were from machinery industry. Paper presents a study on the suitability of webcams for the remote monitoring. In order to establish a remote monitoring system, the images must meet certain quality criteria, thus enabling the assessment of inventory levels. Paper presents image quality tests performed on a webcams in varied conditions, and compares the results to the Finnish Illuminating Engineering Society's lighting regulations for industrial work. The quality tests aimed to ascertain whether the image quality was sufficient in typical industrial conditions. The results indicate that the image quality of modern webcams is sufficient for remote monitoring within the limits set by the distance of the camera from the objects and by lighting conditions. However, according to the tests, the technical performance of surveillance cameras on the market five years ago, taking budget constraints into consideration, was not adequate for monitoring.