Examining the Latest Trends in Retail Security Technology
Store owners and property managers understand the importance of security in the retail industry. Theft and crime in stores significantly and negatively impact sales, employees, and customers.
Fortunately, advancements in technology have provided several solutions for retail security. In this blog post, our retail security experts examine the latest trends in retail security technology and discuss how security guards use this technology to keep stores, employees, and customers safer.
Retail Security: Technology With the Human Touch
Nothing can take away the impact and necessity of security guards, not even impressive new security technologies. Instead, our security teams recommend utilizing both humans and machines, working in tandem to track, detect, and even prevent bad actors from committing their crimes.
Video Analytics
Video analytics is a game-changer for retail security. This technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze surveillance footage and detect unusual activities. Video analytics can detect theft and shoplifting, and it can even detect temperature fluctuations in the store.
By using video analytics, security guards can detect suspicious behaviors or movements and take proactive measures to prevent crime, whether in an individual store or in a shopping mall.
For instance, if video analytics detect a shoplifter attempting to get away with merchandise, security guards receive a notification, allowing them to escort the shoplifter out of the store before the situation escalates.
Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID)
RFID technology is one of the most effective ways to monitor inventory and prevent shoplifting. The technology uses small sensors that attach to products' tags and send frequencies to a scanner whenever a shoplifter tries to leave the store with a product.
With RFID technology, retailers can track inventory in real-time, which minimizes the possibility of employee theft as well as outsider shoplifting. Security guards can monitor these sensors and quickly act once alerted of theft.
RFID technology can also help to streamline the shopping experience, as customers won't have to wait in long queues to pay for their goods.
Biometric Technology
Biometric authentication is another technology on the rise in retail security. Biometric technology uses unique physiological characteristics such as fingerprints or facial recognition for access control.
This technology helps employees and customers by minimizing their reliance on physical keys or cards. For example, biometric technology allows employees to unlock restricted areas such as storage rooms by merely using their fingerprints, facial recognition, or their eyes.
With the use of biometric technology, retail outlets can keep their staff and customers' data safe, and security guards can monitor who accesses different areas of the building and when for added security monitoring.
Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring is a type of security technology that allows security guards to monitor a retail store from a remote location. Remote monitoring uses a combination of security cameras, sensors, alarms, and communication systems to provide 24/7 surveillance of the retail store.
Security guards can access live video feeds, review recorded footage, and communicate with on-site personnel using two-way radios or other communication devices. While useful in preventing shoplifting, remote monitoring plays a significant role in helping families find lost children, monitoring suspicious activity, and alerting authorities in crisis situations.
Remote monitoring may allow retailers to reduce the cost of on-site physical security personnel while still maintaining a high level of security.
Unbeatable Retail Security From Unparalleled Security
When it comes to the duties of security guards in mall and retail settings, technology is a tool that makes preventing crime and helping patrons even more efficient. Loss prevention is only the beginning, as our officers never stop pursuing a wide range of safety and security tasks.
If you’re looking for retail, mall, or commercial security services in the Twin Cities metro area, contact our experts and let us know your security needs!