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Surveillance with an ROI

Businesses often invest substantial amounts of time, money and effort into their security setups, especially ensuring they have a state-of-the-art CCTV system covering every critical area of their business. Unfortunately, the returns they get from this investment are often minimal. The problem is that many service providers today do not make an effort to understand their clients’ business goals and processes and integrate their security accordingly.

“Our experience has taught us that without a deliberate intent to integrate your CCTV application into your existing business and security processes, the system will always fail in achieving your preconceived goals,” says Jan Schoeman, CEO of Secuscan Security Systems. “Within an environment that excludes an intentional, integrated, results-driven approach, a CCTV system will always remain a white elephant, used only in a reactive manner when an incident occurs, and even then not always providing the necessary video evidence you need.”

Schoeman adds that a further catalyst to this dilemma, especially within the South African market, is the low barriers to entry that exist. Unskilled service providers require a minimal amount of money to enter the market and are awarded contracts to install systems, without a proven track record. These unskilled service providers all lack the IT expertise and engineering skills that modern security platforms require. “This inability to engineer specialised solutions in conjunction with the supply of inferior, imported products has created a situation where business owners are bombarded with irrelevant and confusing specifications, rather than concentrating on the goals the system needs to achieve.”

In order to achieve a results-driven solution, Secuscan and affiliate CURA, developed specialised technologies and services that address the challenges and weaknesses found within the South African market. “Our approach is built on world-first technologies as a platform, which supply decision-based information to dedicated services, resulting in a complete solution we call shrinkage, security and surveillance management systems,” adds Schoeman. “Testament to our success and approach is the fact that 2500 CURA Shrinkage, Security and Surveillance Management Systems have to date been successfully installed in retail, security and surveillance environments throughout South Africa.”

Secuscan’s customer list includes multinational and national companies such as:

* BP South Africa.

* Total South Africa.

* Spar South Africa.

* Spar Botswana.

* FNB.

* Absa.

* MetCash.

* Sasol.

Retail: Combining shrinkage and security management

Although the most prolific financial risk facing retail outlets today is shrinkage, armed robberies and theft still play a major role within any retailers mind as it affects the well-being of the business owner, managers, staff and clients on a daily basis. It is with this knowledge and understanding that Secuscan, through SMS, an affiliate company using the CURA Security Management Platform, offer the services of the largest offsite, realtime video monitoring and control centre in South Africa.

Clients are ensured of an immediate response from the South African Police Services in the event of an armed robbery or break-in as Secuscan has a dedicated and guaranteed response.

Furthermore, the company has also learned through experience that the only successful method of reducing the risk of violent crimes is through proper cash management. The possibility of eradicating violent crimes is impossible, but with the processes and procedures currently employed at over 1200 retail outlets, violent crimes have decreased significantly.

Shrinkage

As mentioned, shrinkage is fast becoming or is already, the biggest financial risk a retailer faces today and for which no insurance exists. The Secuscan Shrinkage Management System, consisting of specialised technologies and services, was designed specifically to manage and control shrinkage within retail environments. Although shrinkage cannot be eradicated, the Shrinkage Management System ensures substantial savings. Secuscan clients have indicated that shrinkage after implementation of the Shrinkage Management System dropped to 0,3%–0,5% of turnover, from an initial 1%–3% of turnover.

Video auditing forms a major component of the Shrinkage Management System as well as Secuscan’s approach of purpose-developed technology and services. The integrated approach the company follows includes the identification of the worst cashiers by the Shrinkage Management Platform, after which the singular method of identifying cashiers sweet-hearting and/or personnel not complying to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is determined through our video auditing service.

Eleven years experience within the retail industry has given Secuscan a thorough understanding of the personal risks associated with being a retailer in South Africa. The company therefore ensures it includes a live, off-site monitoring component.

Secuscan is in a unique position in the South African market in that it offers a security solution that delivers measurable returns on investment in a short time. Any retailer reducing shrinkage to the extent Secuscan clients do will not even have time to notice the investment before it has paid for itself. And in an environment where security is still very much a grudge purchase, a fast return on investment is a prized goal.

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