St. Louis, MO (November 16, 2022)
- As retailers get ready for a busy holiday shopping season, they also have to
prepare for an increased risk of theft and violence against employees.
Interface Systems, a
leading managed service provider delivering business security, managed network,
UCaaS, and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises, shares
insights and best practices to mitigate holiday season retail crime and
aggression.
According to the National Retail Federation's 2022 retail security survey, 52.9%
of retailers reported that external theft, and Organized Retail Crime (ORC) in
particular, increased by 26.5% since 2021.
"ORC increases during the holidays because there is more opportunity. The stores
are open longer hours, they are more crowded, employees are extremely busy, and
there is more inventory in the store. What should be "the most wonderful time of
the year" for both shoppers and retailers, is becoming increasingly stressful
due to an increased risk of theft and violence against employees. Technology
solutions can offer effective deterrents for retailers who face security risks
every day," said Sean Foley, SVP of Customer Success at Interface Systems.
Leverage Virtual Security Guards to protect
premises without affecting shopper experience
Retailers can rely on
remote security professionals who can use security cameras, speakers, and
microphones installed at the stores to offer discreet, always-on surveillance
without degrading the shopper experience. These services allow trained security
professionals to identify threats such as argumentative customers, loiterers in
the perimeter of the store, or those about to commit theft, and issue an
immediate audio warning or call law enforcement.
Utilize AI-enabled cameras to proactively identify
threats
Motion-triggered cameras with AI capabilities can become the first line of
defense to proactively identify threats. When deployed in conjunction with a
speaker and lighting system, the solution can automatically warn loiterers
during non-business hours. They can be programmed to play different audio
messages based on the context or even alert a remote security professional who
can access the scene via live video camera feeds. This is especially useful in
parking lots and loading areas.
Integrate video, alarms, and POS systems
One of the easiest ways for retailers to get a return on their security
investment is to integrate video surveillance with a point-of-sale (POS)
solution. Running
exception reports on transactions mapped to video recordings allows
retailers to easily find instances of theft such as coupon fraud, refunds made
in the absence of customers, sweethearting, and unauthorized price overrides.
Empower and train employees
It is expected that retailers will hire between 450,000 and 600,000 seasonal
workers this holiday season. The current climate of active assailants and gun
violence adds to retailers' concerns about being able to keep employees and
customers safe. In fact, eight in 10 retailers surveyed in this year's NRF
report indicated that the violence and aggression associated with ORC incidents
increased in the past year.
Putting in place a robust training and communications program is a crucial step
in ensuring the safety of employees and customers. All new hires including
seasonal employees and existing employees should be made aware of safety and
incident response procedures through a combination of training programs,
role-plays, and drills. Most importantly, the program should include a synopsis
of the security technologies deployed and an emergency communication plan that
all employees should know how to utilize.
"Retailers need a comprehensive safety program to prepare and protect their
associates from a variety of dangerous situations. When employees know that
their safety is the priority, it creates peace of mind and can boost morale and
productivity," said Tyson Johns, SVP of Security Monitoring Operations at
Interface Systems.
About Interface Systems
Interface Systems is a leading managed services provider delivering
business security,
managed network,
UCaaS, and
business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises. We improve
security, streamline connectivity, optimize operations and reduce IT costs,
maximizing ROI for the nation's top brands. Learn more and follow us on our blog
Making IT Happen and on
LinkedIn.
