Smart EAS (electronic article surveillance), the latest technology from Sensormatic, links a retailer's electronic article surveillance, video and point-of-sale (POS) systems, to offer retailers advanced loss prevention - and operational - capabilities. Currently in test in Europe, the new Sensormatic-branded technology will be commercialised within South Africa by Sensormatic SA in the third quarter of 2004.
Tony D'Onofrio, an expert in emerging technologies and senior spokesperson on behalf of Sensormatic comments, "Smart EAS offers advantages to multiple store retailers by automating the collection, reporting and analysis of data via the linking of their EAS, digital video and POS systems with their IT networks. It improves operational efficiency with accurate and timely information. Loss prevention efficiency significantly improves, because all critical information is captured for reporting and analysis, then it is easily reviewed to provide near realtime store intelligence."
Until recently, capturing information on the effectiveness of EAS systems required each alarm event to be manually logged, faxed to a central location and keyed into a computer system. If report generation capabilities were in place, the information could then be analysed. The Sensormatic branded UltraLink Automated Alarm Management System eliminates time-consuming error-prone manual alarm logging. An easy-to-use keyboard greatly simplifies entry of alarm data for store employees and also helps ensure compliance with security procedures.
Useful automation features, along with customisable menu entries, can help management track problem areas, compliance and individuals in need of training. The system automatically tracks response time for all alarms, as well as the reason, location and system status. Equally important, the simplified process provides alarm data in realtime at the corporate level for immediate insight and corrective action.
Sensormatic branded Smart EAS products are designed to help retailers to capture and synchronise images from CCTV digital video recorders enabling managers to view a report on alarm events with digital video images embedded. The synchronisation of digital images with alarm logging also simplifies retrieval and provides additional support resources for security personnel. Managers can view video to find out exactly what triggered an alarm and how it was handled. The system is designed to work with the Sensormatic branded Intellex digital video recorder, and the associated video footage can be sent to a centralised location via existing IT lines.
Linked to Traffic Flow people counting system the new UltraLink system will enable information on the number of people entering and exiting the store to be communicated automatically to corporate headquarters, allowing each store's traffic volume to be measured on a daily basis as a key performance indicator. The closure rate for merchandise sales can also be determined by comparing traffic volume to actual sales. Additionally merchandise sales data can be used to optimise labour expenditures for the stores.
System diagnostics, provided as an integral part of UltraLink, provide valuable time and cost saving features for retailers. Exception-based reports, covering deactivation, detection and diagnostics functions, can be customised to each store to provide management with another tool to enhance loss prevention and operational performance, providing another invaluable benefit with the Smart EAS solution. All the reports are modular and their foundation is based on the Datavantage Proact Software Suite (the leading Loss Prevention Exception Reporting system in North America).
With the SmartEAS-POS solution, information from the EAS deactivator and POS scanner is integrated and captured in the POS transaction log. Management can confirm that cashiers are following correct procedures and whether the systems are functioning appropriately, which helps prevent unauthorised deactivation and fraudulent transactions. Linking the data from EAS deactivation and scanning also provides automated analysis of source tagging and can be used to increase manufacture compliance.
For more information contact David Pople, Sensormatic SA, 011 466 0444, [email protected]
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