How retailers can be protected with security

Needless to say, retailers using security equipment to optimize business intelligence and customer satisfaction has been discussed to a great length. Amid this trend, it’s easy to lose sight on what the equipment is really for in the first place – security at the retail shop.
 
In fact, security for retail has become more important than ever. “The face of bricks and mortar retail is changing. There are now less people on the ground and more unattended areas. With fewer people overseeing what is happening on the shop floor and in other areas of the retail environment, using technology has become an important aspect of ensuring safety and security,” said a recent blogpost by Axis Communications.
 
That said, the following are some ways security technologies can keep retailers safe, according to Axis.
 

Access control

 
Access control plays a critical role in securing a retail shop and protecting staff and shoppers. According to Axis, there are off-limits areas that must be tightly secured. “Imagine, for example, if a disgruntled ex-employee in a grocery store gained access to the stock room and tampered with food products that were then purchased by customers and consumed – the extent of the hazards this could cause is unimaginable,” it said.
 
In another example, someone may be counting a large sum of takings in the store’s cash room. “Criminals may be aware that this process happens, either from monitoring the store or from insider information, and target the cash room at that time. By having suitable access control for sensitive or restricted areas, if someone tries to gain access to the area, the employee can check it is safe to grant them access, reducing the risk of both their safety and the security of the contents of the room being compromised,” Axis said.
 

Video surveillance coupled with analytics

 
Video cameras with on-board analytics also play an important part in keeping premises safe. “For example, combining the camera with a network microphone (can make it) so if there is a bang it would alert security, who could check the camera to see the shop floor and identify if there is a risk that should be acted upon,” the post said.
 
According to Axis, cameras and analytics can also be used to spot potential dangers, such as identifying an object obstructing an emergency exit. “In this scenario, store staff can be alerted and remove the hazard in a timely manner, eliminating the risk. Similarly, cameras can be used to monitor the environment and recognize something that could potentially cause an accident, such as a wet floor or a display that has been moved so it is no longer secure. Once identified an attendant can remove the risk, preventing a customer from coming to harm,” it said.
 

Remote areas

 
For convenience stores or other types of retailers in remote locations that are open all night, security is of paramount importance. “With remote locations, there may be fewer patrons, so store workers may often be alone with only one customer. To increase their safety and security in what could be a vulnerable situation, cameras with audio analytics can be used to detect aggression and send an alert to the central operator, who can verify the risk via the camera,” the post said.
 
Similarly, remote stores could be a more attractive target for vandalism and crime, as the perpetrators are less likely to be disturbed and caught, it said. “In this case, surveillance in parking lots can identify those loitering, therefore alerting the store owner to potential criminal acts, such as vandalism, a break-in or the possible intention of robbing a clerk,” the post said.