Working to protect your business from would-be thieves is one of the most important aspects of running a retail operation. Numerous components, tools, and solutions can help to provide proper onsite security. Choosing a combination of these tools not only frees your time from policing the location to work with customers, but it also helps well-paying customers to feel comfortable in your shop. Consider these few key recommendations.

1. Cameras and Video

Aside from having a security guard standing over a would-be thief, the biggest deterrent to theft is security cameras and videos. Newer solutions do more of the heavy lifting for property owners. In addition to recording, these solutions can identify suspicious movements or behaviors that could indicate theft occurring. Then, they alert the security manager. They can also use factors such as heatmaps and people count to determine when the risk of theft is highest.

2. Merchandise Security

One of the most important aspects of security is keeping products accessible to customers but still protected. High-value items, whether they be rare baseball cards or expensive pieces of jewelry, need to be seen up close. The key here is to keep products highly visible, but protected from being picked up and placed in a pocket.

Merchandise security is key to this. Solutions like Senseon cabinet-level access control systems provide an appealing display for customers, while making it simple for sales representatives to lock and unlock displays using a keyless, RFID-enabled device.

Keep thieves at bay with Senseon’s discrete, cabinet-level access control systems, providing multi-layer merchandise protection.

More advanced security solutions, such as Senseon Plus, come equipped with audit trail capabilities that allow business owners to track access and monitor employee activity. These solutions work to minimize risk without detracting from the customer experience.

3. Data Security

Every type of retail business today needs to invest in data security. Protecting consumer data – including payment information, identities, and other sensitive details – is the job of every company who swipes a credit card for a purchase. Data security also needs to reflect protections for the company’s own sensitive data.

Cabinets are often overlooked when designing data security plans. Storage cabinets, however, hold more than business equipment and office supplies. Many cabinets hold essential business documentation.

Thankfully, there are easy-to-install security solutions designed specifically to protect your essential business documentation. Senseon Plus, for example, is a cabinet-level access control system equipped with advanced security features, such as dual authorization, which requires two users to present valid credentials in order to access secured contents. By installing a smart and secure cabinet locking system, you can stay one step ahead of the game when it comes to keeping company and customer data secure.

4. Improved Lighting and Visibility

Properly lighting the interior and exterior of any property is also a critical way of keeping retail stores secure. Light deters theft and helps people to feel at ease. Lighting should also be located throughout the interior of the store that’s bright enough to ensure cameras can pick up visual details.

High visibility, including the use of mirrors, can help make even a hidden corner a bit safer. In order to ensure high visibility, all entrances must not be obstructed by awnings or landscaping. The more comprehensive this visibility is to all areas, the more likely it is to reduce the threat of theft.

5. Well-trained Staff

Perhaps the hardest piece to the puzzle is having well-trained staff who can handle threats effectively. While not all retail locations need a security guard on-site to provide constant surveillance, a team that’s trained to handle and diffuse risks is important. This includes hosting training meetings and sessions to ensure each person knows how to spot potential risks and manage them.

By combining the latest security technology with well-trained staff, you can enhance security and improve the customer experience.

As noted, security needs to protect retailer products and property. At the same time, it must not create such an overbearing presence that it puts the customer on edge. Consumers do not want to feel as though they are being watched. They do not want companies to expect them to steal. Finding a balance here is critical.

At Senseon, we offer cabinet-level access control systems that both enhance security and improve the customer experience. Visit our Retail Security page to learn more about the products we offer and the solutions we provide.