Security Trends For Start-Up Retailers To Drive Better Customer Experience & Business Intelligence

By Brian Wallace Brian Wallace has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team
Published on August 22, 2022

Theft and fraud cost retailers $62 billion in 2021. If you’re looking to improve your business intelligence and help build a better customer experience in your stores, you need to be looking for enhanced security.

How can physical security technologies benefit your business? Keep reading as this guide talks you through the latest security technologies and how retailers can use them to create a more cohesive overall security strategy and improve the customer experience.

Physical Security Trends For Retailers

Let’s dive in and discuss some of the latest innovations for retailers that can help improve the customer experience and drive business intelligence.

Video Security Powered By AI

Your security camera system performs two primary functions – firstly, it helps deter criminals from attempting to steal from your store or commit a crime on the property. Secondly, it helps to provide evidence of the crime after the suspect has been apprehended by security staff. 

However, you can enhance your video security system using AI to ensure your video camera system is instrumental in helping your security staff prevent a crime. Your security staff cannot consistently monitor the video feed, as they have other tasks and duties to attend to throughout their shift. Additionally, there may be too many cameras for security staff to observe at once. The solution? AI.

Integrating AI and analytics with your security system can ensure that potential security threats are spotted in time for your security staff to respond. Analytics monitor the video feed and trigger alerts when a possible security incident is detected. Your security staff will receive a mobile notification, allowing them to act quickly and detain the perpetrator. 

Without AI and analytics, your security staff could miss a theft or security incident that leads to losses for your business.

Video And Access Control Integration

Your staff-only areas need to be restricted from public access. By installing a touchless access control system, you can ensure that your staff gain access to these spaces quickly and conveniently. 

Modern commercial access control systems grant authorized access using mobile credentials stored on employee devices. Retail stores often have a high staff turnover so mobile credentials could save you on keycard and fob replacement. New staff can download access credentials to access the building. When staff leave, you can remove them from the system quickly.

If an unauthorized user steals access credentials, they can easily use them to access your storage spaces and steal valuable stock items. investing in a video intercom reader to minimize this risk. A video intercom reader integrates video and access control for identity verification. Access logs and video feed information are readily available on a single interface, allowing you to quickly verify the identity of the user trying to access your staff-only areas.

Gunshot Detection And Automated Lockdown Procedures

In light of recent events, retailers must reconsider their emergency response procedures. If an active shooter is in your retail store, you need gunshot detection that will notify your staff, allowing them to respond quickly and call the authorities. 

With touchless access control, you gain the ability to initiate lockdown procedures using a mobile application or cloud-based control center. You can quickly secure the building and ensure that the active shooter is apprehended.

Smart Building Technology

Smart building technology helps you keep your retail store comfortable for your customers. IoT technologies can help you operate your store’s heating and lighting remotely. If your store is crowded, you must ensure that the temperature remains cool and prevent overheating. Connecting your HVAC system to the internet of things allows you to adjust the temperature using your mobile device easily.

You can also use smart building technology to help implement social distancing in your store. Having sensors around your store allows you to use occupancy management software to keep occupancy levels safe. Occupancy management software will alert you when occupancy levels are too high, and you can prevent more customers from entering your store, advising them to form a queue.

Cloud-Based And Fully-Integrated Security

According to top cybersecurity companies, your business should invest in a fully integrated security system, ensuring that all security information is visible on a single platform. This will create a more user-friendly experience for your security staff and help you eliminate the use of hefty hardware that can be expensive to purchase and maintain. You gain more storage space with a cloud-based system and enhance and build upon your cloud-based security system with different integrations that suit your business needs.

Summary

Your retail store stands to benefit from implementing more cloud-based security technologies. Cloud-based physical security offers more convenience and integration potential, allowing you to build a more cohesive and blended security system. Consider which of these security technologies would most benefit your business and help minimize security risks and vulnerabilities in your current system.

By Brian Wallace Brian Wallace has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team

Brian Wallace is a Columnist at Grit Daily. He is an entrepreneur, writer, and podcast host. He is the Founder and President of NowSourcing and has been featured in Forbes, TIME, and The New York Times. Brian previously wrote for Mashable and currently writes for Hacker Noon, CMSWire, Business 2 Community, and more. His Next Action podcast features entrepreneurs trying to get to the next level. Brian also hosts #LinkedInLocal events all over the country, promoting the use of LinkedIn among professionals wanting to grow their careers.

Read more

More GD News