Page 10 - Security Today, November/December 2024

R E T A I L S E C U R I T Y
Crushing Retail
Losses Front to Back
By Brian Davidson
plex and dynamic security
Retail is still a more com-
vertical in modern society.
Inherent challenges with
in-store and distribution
center operations are primarily due to con-
stantly shifting consumer buying trends.
Retailers must demonstrate daily fl exibil-
ity to keep workers, meet sales goals, and
attract customers while maintaining safe
and effi cient operations.
Retail is an intricate web of intercon-
nected elements. At the heart of a growing
number of organizations is the adoption
of advanced security solutions for key and
asset management that prove their worth
daily through improved workfl ow and
comprehensive monitoring.
IN-STORE APPLICATION
Like most security verticals, retail begins
with access control – who is allowed,
where and when. Keys are a critical asset
to accessing all parts of a store, and too
often, managers don’t implement a com-
prehensive system for their use.
Outdated systems like notebooks and
drawers are susceptible to theft, and just
one master key in the hands of an unau-
thorized user can be disastrous for any re-
tail entity. As such, many retailers use in-
telligent key cabinets to know where each
key is at any time and restrict access to
only those employees who genuinely need
to be in a particular area.
The physical keys can also be pro-
grammed by an administrator with a cur-
few feature, so an immediate notifi cation is
sent if they are not returned to the cabinet
at the end of a shift. Not only does this
increase safety measures, but it also cuts
down on time spent looking for any mis-
placed keys.
Where employees have access to it is
fundamentally essential. However, what
they have access to is just as critical. In-
store operations depend on correct inven-
tory control, and managers must have a
10,000-foot view of which employees are
managing which product.
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Interestingly, while external theft plays
a signifi cant role in retail security, internal
theft is also rising. The National Retail
Federation estimates internal and exter-
nal theft accounts for as much as 70% of
shrinkage in some retail sectors.
Several shared devices are widely used
in inventory control, most notably hand-
held scanners, which can provide instant
information on quantity and send reports
to match up with sales records.
Because they play such a critical role
in operations, scanners must be carefully
managed to avoid any potential mistakes
in reporting and help safeguard against
theft. Ironically, shared devices are also
susceptible to theft, as they can garner sig-
nifi cant value in the secondhand market.
Because of that, asset management lock-
ers are an increasingly popular solution to
combat theft.
Just like with key cabinets, asset man-
agement lockers help managers know
who has (or had) which asset and if it is
not returned by a specifi c time, they can
be alerted. Lockers can be customized to
house all types of scanners, tablets, radios
and laptops and are equipped with in-bay
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R charging. The locker can be programmed
to prioritize releasing the most charged as-
set, reducing the inconvenience and down-
time of an employee removing an asset
with a dead battery.
Similarly, the locker interface can
prompt users to provide details on any
faults with the asset. This feature will re-
move that asset from circulation until an
administrator has corrected the issue.
BACK-END BENEFITS
The advantages of key cabinets and as-
set management lockers in retail extend
into back-end operations as well. Ware-
houses and distribution centers are play-
ing an even larger role in meeting online
demands, as customers are expecting ship-
ping and delivery seemingly overnight.
That can put a strain on the workers
who are fi lling and shipping those orders,
and if they’re not operating at peak effi -
ciency, the business can struggle.
One of the unique components of
warehouse operations compared to in-
store is simply the number of employees.
Some facilities include hundreds of work-
ers, so the need for administrative moni-
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