How secure is your business? Chris Coughlin, Technical Product Manager at Stanley Security, shares his seven tips to make security pay its way in the new normal “The pandemic has been the catalyst for a revolution in the security industry and moved technology forward by five years,” says Chris. “The days of a single camera on a wall are long gone,” he insists: “Catering and hospitality sector decisionmakers are now asking not just ‘how do I protect my business?’ but also ‘how can I save money?’” Like Q in the Bond films, in his job Chris puts the latest CCTV, intruder and monitoring technologies to the test. So here’s his expert guide to protect staff, stay hygienic, prevent loss, boost efficiency and build a business fit for a post-lockdown future.
1. Don’t cut corners
Security is always viewed as an unnecessary expense… right up until the time you have a problem. You can buy security cameras off the shelf, but the best solutions are tailored to the size, layout and footfall of your restaurant, pub, café or bar. These days, security options can be monthly contracts that are cheaper than a mobile phone subscription.
If you do change security, be sure to train your staff to help them maintain safe working conditions and dispel any anxiety around returning to work.
2. Internal threat
The pandemic has prompted a spike in staff becoming opportunist thieves at a faster rate than ever. It might be someone helping themselves to food each day, ‘sweethearting’ where they discount or are giving products away for free, or taking a fiver out of the till. Although, since the pandemic, some venues now only accept card payments, cash is still widely used and can be an easy target for internal (and external) thieves. Camera technology which records and zooms in every time there’s a transaction can help stop this and potentially save you thousands.
3. External threat
Traditional break-ins for cash in tills and stock, malicious damage, graffiti and vandalism tend to happen outside operating hours, so a remote, integrated and motion-sensitive intruder system
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