— By Del Williams — Advanced Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) eliminate potential dead zones in commercial buildings to help first responders stay connected. First responders such as fire, EMS and police depend on reliable two-way radio communication when lives and property are at risk. That’s not always an easy task in many buildings. In-building radio signals are often absorbed or blocked by structures that are larger, underground or constructed of concrete or metal. Additionally, building features designed to create more sustainable facilities such as low-E glass windows can …
security/loss prevention
— By John Wright — Savvy retailers are finding innovative ways to boost efficiency. Modern building management systems can control everything from locked doors and temperature settings, to lighting and even audio and ambiance in today’s retail environments. But can they do more? Some retail leaders think so and are employing new strategies to gain a competitive advantage. “Dark deliveries” have emerged as one such strategy for optimizing efficiency and streamlining operations. This refers to an approach that allows retail stores to receive shipments during off-hours when operations are minimal …
Protect Your Retail Space from Car Damage
By the time you finish reading this article, somewhere in the United States, a car will have run over the curb of a busy road, crossed the sidewalk and crashed into a retail space. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that somebody is driving into a storefront right now,” says Jessica Suazo, regional service manager for Colt Facility Maintenance, based in Dallas. Suazo’s company specializes in systems of bollards that protect buildings from these collisions. Also, for buildings not properly protected from collisions, companies like Colt provide emergency services. …
Santa Clara, Calif. — Cequence, a pioneer in API security and bot management, has been selected by Hibbett, a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer, to enhance Hibbett’s automated threat detection capabilities and enable comprehensive inventory management, compliance and API protection across all online and in-store brands. Like many retailers, Hibbett operates in a hybrid IT environment, juggling both on-premises and cloud-based systems for its retail and online operations. After critical SaaS migration to Oracle Cloud and Azure Active Directory, the company prioritized robust API security to ensure secure and efficient API …
— By Robert Harling — Innovative loss prevention technologies and strategies. The safety and security of shoppers and employees are at the top of the list of priorities for retail executives. Open and inviting stores where customers can shop without concern and employees are assured of their safety is not a new goal for retailers. As incidents of retail theft and in-store violence rise, retailers must adapt with effective strategies and advanced technologies to ensure a safe shopping environment. The National Retail Federation reported a 19.3% increase in retail shrink, …
Lincolnshire, Ill. — Zebra Technologies Corporation, a leading digital solution provider enabling businesses to intelligently connect data, assets and people, has been chosen by the Walgreens Boots Alliance to optimize its operations with Zebra Workcloud Actionable Intelligence software, in order to save millions of dollars by enhancing operational compliance and the company’s ability to identify and combat shrink. Walgreens, a Chicago-based international pharmacy retailer, selected Zebra’s Modern Store framework to improve asset protection, better equip employees with technology, and optimize operational visibility in its network of 8,000 locations across 50 …
— By Scott Thomas — Setting up your Security Operations Center (SOC): a checklist for retailers. Today, due to a combination of a changing threat environment and technology advances, more retailers are building SOCs to support store safety and investigations, and help make operational staff more efficient. Ryan Themm, corporate investigations manager at supercenter Meijer, has noted that the remote operations center (ROC) they launched to provide a complete view across all of their stores and sites has been instrumental in helping them significantly reduce budget spent on fraud mitigation. …
— By Patrick Chown — The future of retail and restaurant facilities should embrace IoT and connectivity for smarter operations. The retail and restaurant industries are undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer expectations. In this dynamic landscape, the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced network connectivity are emerging as pivotal elements. These technologies are not just reshaping how businesses operate but are also redefining the customer experience. By integrating IoT solutions, retailers and restaurateurs are unlocking new potentials in operational efficiency, customer engagement and data-driven …
— By Anneliese Scherer — Forensic accounting for restaurants. Among business owners facing the highest fraud risk are restaurant owners, who are often susceptible to asset misappropriation schemes. This is where a forensic accounting expert can play an invaluable role. It involves the application of accounting and investigative skills to analyze financial data, transactions and records related to a restaurant’s operations. The goal is to uncover financial irregularities and potential fraud. Employees perpetrate the most common fraud schemes at restaurants, including various cash and inventory misappropriation schemes. Cash Misappropriation An …
— By Rich McElwain — Enhancing retail security through license plate recognition (LPR). In an era of rapidly evolving technology, security is a top concern for retailers to proactively protect physical assets, employees and customers from potential threats. According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2022 Retail Security Survey, retailers attributed their greatest portion of shrink — a whopping 37% — to external theft. In addition, retailers saw a 26.5% increase in Organized Retail Crime (ORC) incidents over the past year, representing $94.5 billion in losses. The landscape of retail …