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TIMM MARTIN
SENTINEL SECURITY Insider chats with Timm on how business has changed with COVID-19 and how the outbreak has affected stores across Australia and New Zealand.
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My name is Timm, that’s right two m’s, from Sentinel Security Australia. Most of you will have at some stage met my boss Jason Keane, and like Jason, I have been involved in the self storage industry for the better part of twenty years. I started with Sentinel Storage Security in early
February 2020 and like everyone was oblivious to Corona
Virus and what the impact would be on our robust and resilient industry. The first few weeks and months were not a panic as such, but they were certainly trying and busy times.
After only one month in the role I had to hit the ground running. Very early on, calls started coming through to see how security and technology could play a more significant role in helping with the developing issue of staff and customers distancing from each other where possible.
Understanding all the facets of individual businesses, early intervention, and constant contact were the foundations in providing solutions. The types of jobs we have completed during this time have been: l retrofitting unit alarm installation l re-installation of existing infrastructure l the roll-out of some fascinating new technology all designed around helping storage facilities and centres become entirely remote. With the speed with which technology improves, technological leaps will become commonplace and more cost-effective over time. There are solutions out there in the marketplace that some operators would not know about, so in times like these a great relationship with your installer or security team is vital.
The first challenge we came across early on was operators in New Zealand who needed to shut down facilities with little notice. They were given minimal warning with even less instruction. For example: a facility had an operating management software system and they needed this to speak to a system that controlled doors and individual alarms. It was a simple case and could be done cost-effectively and efficiently remotely via a secure link. Existing CCTV systems that were cloud-based helped considerably with this process and gave peace of mind to those facilities that were the first cabs off the rank.
For facilities without these features, the shutdown process became a little more hands-on but again with a bit of technology these stores and centres managed the process, with access control software and systems linked through some easy and usable public access web-scheduling services. Facilities were able to sign-up online for service (EG: Team-up) for online scheduling and customers were able to pick times themselves in half-hour blocks in which they were able to attend the site to grab what they needed.
The beauty of both these style of responses from facilities is that they were still able to deliver a lockdown as instructed by authorities, but also provide a level of service to their existing customers. The facilities that acted quickly
have since noted that it was easier to judge on a case-by-case basis those customers that had genuine concerns and calls for a discount. They have said it helped make the decision process easy.
The next step was to ensure the on-going integrity of their system of choice by reviewing their CCTV and the system that allowed them to monitor and access their stores remotely. When quoting for a new build or retrofit, Sentinel Security builds in some future-proof options which makes any future additions as cost-effective as possible. For the past few years, Sentinel Security and our associated installer group have installed HIK-VISION brand CCTV systems and cameras. Recently they announced with the COVID-19 outbreaks a range of thermal cameras which are the next step in protection. These camera upgrades don't require an entire system upgrade or retrofit and the majority of facilities who use HIK-Vision and will struggle to spot the difference between the new cameras.
The HIK-VISION temperature screening, thermographic, turret camera is designed to detect elevated skin-surface temperature with high accuracy in real-time. It can be used for preliminary temperature screening in office buildings, factories, stations, airports and other public places. With extreme weather in some parts of New Zealand, thermal CCTV cameras are not a new invention by any stretch, and the American Industry has used them exclusively across those states that experience snow for many years. It is good to know a solution exists in a readily available off-the-shelf product. The installation process of these new thermal cameras is as simple as replacing existing cameras. Then a small upgrade to the NVR and software that runs the hard drive will allow full thermal scanning. While it is yet to be considered mandatory, there are large city buildings (Telstra, NAB, Channel 7 Martin Place NSW) now using handheld and tripod mounted versions of these cameras to screen large crowds and workforces.
My career in storage began with National Storage almost twenty years ago. The humble beginnings at National Storage in 2001 saw me observe three stores become one hundred and eighty over time. I have also worked in the U.S. for a year with Storman Software and was involved in setting up a two-store portfolio in Melbourne called AustPac located in Richmond and South Melbourne (now Wilson Storage). It has been an unreal twenty years, and now I find myself with my feet firmly under the desk at Sentinel and having a ball. The storage industry is like a huge family. My skill set was predominantly operational management with a passion for sales and customer service, so learning this side of the industry has been very challenging. I am a self storage tragic so feel free to call me about any operational question you may have, as well as anything Sentinel Storage Security related.
It is refreshing to be working in a team that focuses on the same core values and passion that I have, and I still love this industry and am grateful for the friends I have made this far. I look forward to bringing you more security corner snippets over time. l
