Commercial Video Security
Even in the best of times, shoplifting and employee theft are a big concern for businesses, who often lose thousands of dollars in money and product, putting a real dent in profits. Today, it is estimated that the shoplifting rates alone have risen over 15% and the employee theft rate is surely following that closely.
Given the recession-induced business slow down and rising crime rates, it’s more important than ever that any company consider the relatively small investment in video security equipment to protect yourself from this increasing activity and grow your bottom line. In fact, studies conservatively estimate that a business can prevent 25-50% of criminal activity by employing a simple video security camera and/or system. At today’s crime rates, this investment will pay for itself in months.
Here are eight of the MANY ways that a video security system can protect your business:
1. Fraudulent Claims – Your company may not have experienced it yet but there are people out there who are making a career out of staging “slip and falls” and earning near Hollywood sized paychecks. Thankfully, many of these claims have been successfully disputed by businesses using CCTV cameras in public areas. However, it’s equally important that companies consider placing CCTV cameras in areas of the business not accessible to the general public, where most claims of employee injuries occur. Video security cameras installed in these areas will help to put a stop to these claims, and capture actual evidence to help protect the company should a true accident take place.
2. Supply Theft – Your stockrooms are typically out of sight and out mind and make perfect targets for internal thieves. Stockrooms are perfect areas for hidden cameras and are a great way to finally catch the person who is stealing from you, but why not take away the temptation and just install obvious cameras?
3. Returns Theft -Returned goods can be a problem for companies in a couple of ways. Employees and customers either separately or together can easily steal from you with returned goods fraud. Placing cameras at returns areas or cash registers can monitor for suspicious behavior.
4. Tool Theft – Many businesses have tools and supplies provided for the employees to use, some extremely expensive. With ebay and craigslist providing willing buyers for stolen tools and equipment it has become easy and tempting to steal from your employer. By having cameras placed in strategic areas you can see if your tools have “grown legs” and walked away!
5. Office Creepers – Many types of businesses have busy offices or shops where people come and go, leaving you vulnerable to the office creeper. Office creepers will stroll right into the heart of any business and take their pick of up-to-date laptops, monitors, printers, etc… A business equipped with surveillance video cameras in plain sight will deter a creeper and send them off looking for lesser prepared facilities.
6. Productivity Loss – The company Websense has released studies that indicate business loss due to low productivity far outweighs more traditional means of theft. Everything from everyday extended conversations, extended breaks, low accomplishment of task, etc. These are common to almost every business, but confronting even the more vile offenders can be difficult in today’s politically correct environment. An easy way to avoid confrontation and get the real story is through the use of video surveillance gear… Businesses that have chosen this route have been shocked at what they’ve uncovered and the positive changes they were able to make through monitoring and active management.
7. Crimes Against Others – Inside any business, the company is not the only one with valuables. These days, both customers and employees enter the businesses equipped with a variety of items commonly targeted by thieves – including cell phones, iphones, laptops, cash, and personal information. And as such, both customers and employees alike can become the unsuspecting target. Employees will inherently maintain certain levels of trust with fellow employees, which are often violated. Likewise, customers will devote generous amounts of trust by leaving property in hands of employees – a prime targets for thieves. Losing the trust of a company’s employees and customers can bring a quick death to an otherwise viable business.
8. Customer Experience – In tough economic times, its hard enough to earn a customer’s business… the last thing a company needs is its employees diminishing the chances of repeat business through bad customer experience. Many of our business customers focused on customer service will employ body-worn video equipment and mystery shop their own business to document true customer experience. This tactic will quickly root out the bad apples, and provide very powerful training video to educate the company’s employees of how to properly interact with the customer.
It’s impossible to be everywhere in a business at all times – but with video surveillance systems you can get very close. When items are missing and questions arise, a quick review of footage recorded sometimes weeks ago will uncover facts and give you the power for quick and decisive action.
You need to take action to protect your business and it’s profits. Technology Solutions can work with you to fit a system to your business and and your budget. Call Russ today at 763-350-8908 or email me at russ@technologysolutionsmn.com and get started!
