Retail Solutions for Loss Prevention and Operations Management

I had a great time at the New England Organized Retail Crime Symposium & Trade Show yesterday in Worcester, Massachusetts. I especially enjoyed listening to the speakers and the many attendees’s that I had the privilege of speaking with concerning their biggest concerns today.  The common thread for me in these conversations was:

• Multiple offender crimes
• Flash Mobs
• Active Shooter Scenarios
• Better Internal Fraud Detection Solutions
• Improve Customer Service
• Reduce Shrinkage
• Increase Staff Safety
• Measure Business Performance
• Ensure Procedure Compliance
• Better Remote Internal and External Video Views and Integration Solutions
• Better Analytics, Including
• Loitering in high-risk areas
• Removal of multiple high-priced items
• In-store, after hours motion detection
• Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) alarm activation
• People counting entering the location
• Measure traffic flow patterns by aisle, displays or other areas
• Identify peak busy periods
• Be alerted to customers waiting at the registers
• Better Data Mining including:
• Smart transaction profiling that employ hundreds of built-in, expert business rules to quickly spot patterns of theft and fraud
• Transaction analysis that also enables searching on credit cards1, coupons, gift and discount cards
• Easy-to-use query designer enabling development of custom rules to reflect adherence to corporate policies
• User-definable Dashboard displays the most important data in a Web-based UI
• Data mining accuracy is enhanced through the statistical weighting of the unique characteristics and selling mix of every store
• Increased productivity results from conducting investigations with confidence and knowing precisely where the most problematic issues exist
• Custom report writer delivers interactive reports with essential information, and permits data export to Excel, XML, or other formats
• Visual intelligence links receipts with digital video to verify suspect POS transactions

Today’s integrated security technologies offer all of these solutions and more.  At American Alarm and Communications, Inc., we offer complete security solutions for customers with high demands for security and efficient solutions.  Prioritized market segments are bank and financial institutions, retail, transport and logistics, state and local governments, health care, defense and industry.  The offering is supported by modern technology within for example, access control, video surveillance, critical audio communications, intrusion prevention, fire alarm systems, integration, service, inspections and monitoring.

I you have any concerns like these, we can have a serious discussion of your goals and plans we can help you design and budget a solution for your organization that can deploy within months and begin to pay for itself immediately.   Please contact me at your convenience to arrange an initial consultation.  I have a paper I quickly wrote to discuss an example of a possible solution, drop me a note for a copy.

Riding the wave of hosted video at ASIS 2011 |

Riding the wave of hosted video at ASIS 2011 |

The New England Organized Retail Crime Symposium & Trade Show – September 21, 2011

The New England Organized Retail Crime Symposium & Trade Show will be held on September 21, 2011 at DCU Center - Worcester, Massachusetts (50 Foster Street).  The event is hosted by the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association, Maine Merchants Association, Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Retail Merchants Association of New Hampshire, Rhode Island Retail Federation and the Vermont Retail Association.

 

One of my favorite events of the year, the symposium features a strong blend of ORC and major crime information from companies such as CVS, eBay, T-Mobile and Wegmans.  Last year Eric Ives of the FBI and Kevin Tyrrell of ICE both made the trip from Washington, DC and delivered updates on federal law enforcement initiatives. Kevin Plante of Staples served as the master of ceremonies (and comedian), keeping everything rolling onstage. 

Since I spent the first 12 years of my career in operations and Loss Prevention and have deployed and sold over one billion dollars of security integrated technology solutions using Marchnetworks, Verint, Milestone and others within the retail sector since 9-11, I am always looking for ways to improve the tools and countermeasures loss prevention professionals use to protect the people and assets under their control.  At the last NRF event that I attended the most common thread was how LP/AP needed to do more (WORK) with less (STAFF).  My focus in this sector has been how the industry can better integrate technologies, create better evidence and streamline the ability to build cases in a more efficient manner.   Then deploy and support those solutions with the best installation and service teams nationwide.

Now since I joined American Alarm and Communications, Inc., I support the retail industry with separate solutions up to one total package including full integration of Video, POS, Access Control, Intrusion, Fire, Monitoring and Alarm Verification.  I look forward to this year’s show to demonstrate some of the new technologies, concepts and manufacturers available to reduce losses and improve productivity.

The 2011 New England Public Works Expo is September 28th & 29th, Get Your Passes!

This year marks the 32^nd Annual New England Public Works Expo! ( http://www.nepublicworksexpo.org/index.htm )  This year’s show, sponsored by the Massachusetts Highway Association (MHA) will be held at the Central Mass Expo Center, 150 Royal Plaza Drive, Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 (Marriott Courtyard Facility http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/boscf-courtyard-fitchburg/ ). 

Show Highlights:

• Show hours
•  Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
•      Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Onsite parking
• Complimentary BBQ both days from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Vendor Appreciation Night - Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
• Snow Plow Rodeo finals on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.

American Alarm & Communications, Inc.,  has received complimentary passes (a $10.00 value) to distribute to their customers before the show.  If you would like a passes, contact me at 508-453-2731 and I will send them to you.

Safety, Security & Privacy - SituCon Privacy Protecting Safety Technology Rolls out in NY School District

A school district in New York has implemented an emergency video and audio notification system that only activates cameras when somebody pushes an alerting device.  Should an emergency occur, a teacher or staff person can push a wireless SituCon "Instant Alert" button on their person, which generates e-mails and texts to school administrators and local police with identifying information such as the individual's name, location, and phone number.


Simultaneously, "eyelids" on SituCam cameras open and begin recording video of the situation at the police dispatch center and on responding officers' smart phones, so that they have a better understanding about what's happening as they enter the emergency site.  At other times, SituCam's eyelids remain closed, except after hours when monitoring is allowed to protect other school assets.

The aired version of a new NY clip can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=CqOSVO6pu-M

SituCon’s technology has been deployed here in Massachusetts in Marshfield and Brookline, among others.  The technology has found applications in schools, libraries, Police interview rooms, other public buildings, IT rooms, hospitals and other settings where privacy is vital but security situational awareness is critical if events warrant a quick response.

See all SituCon news at http://www.situconsystems.com/news.asp

The SituCon device is a smart enclosure that works with various cameras and can be accessed wired or wireless allowing responders to access the video and/or audio thru various devices in a crisis situation.  The system is powered by a single POE (Power-Over-Ethernet) single Cat6 cable.
We at American Alarm & Communications, Inc., have an active relationship with SituCon and can help you design, test and deploy their technology in your organization.  Contact me directly for more information at (508) 453-2731.


About SituCon Systems
SituCon Systems is the leading innovator of hardware and software technologies that provide both safety and privacy. SituCon’s Emergency Awareness Solution uses innovative privacy protecting technologies, a sophisticated alerting system and on-demand video to deliver complete peace of mind. Public safety agencies, schools, municipalities and businesses around the country use SituCon’s products to protect safety and safeguard privacy. For more information please visit www.situcon.com.

IP Video Surveillance Equipment Sales to Surpass Analog in 2014, Says IMS Research

IMS Research's latest report, “The World Market for CCTV and Video Surveillance Equipment – 2011 Edition”, estimates that the world market for video surveillance equipment continued to achieve strong growth in 2010, in excess of 10 percent on the previous year, despite the persistent after-effects of the global economic downturn. This growth was predominantly driven by sales of network video surveillance equipment.  


According to Senior Analyst and report author, Gary Wong; “Whilst the global analogue video surveillance equipment market was relatively depressed in 2010, the network video surveillance market has continued grow almost three time as fast as the total market in 2010, over 30 percent”. Wong continues, “If the Chinese analogue video surveillance equipment market was removed from the equation, both the EMEA and the Americas analogue markets contracted in 2010”.

Two key factors impacting the decline of the analogue video surveillance market are the large/enterprise tier of the market transitioning to network video surveillance solutions and increasing price competition/ commoditisation in the mid-low tier of the analogue surveillance market. Network video surveillance growth continues to be bolstered by the trickle-through effect from government stimulus-funded projects and the increasing penetration of higher value network video surveillance products, such as HD cameras.

IMS Research forecasts that the growth of the network video surveillance market and the decline of the analogue market will lead to a transition in 2014, with network video overtaking analogue in terms of sales revenue. However, it should be noted that in terms of shipments, analogue cameras are forecast to continue to outsell network cameras in 2014.

IMS Research's recently published report, “The World Market for CCTV and Video Surveillance Equipment – 2011 Edition” forecasts the growth of analogue video surveillance equipment, network video surveillance equipment and other relevant topics in greater detail. IMS Research also produces a number of detailed regional focused CCTV and video surveillance equipment reports providing incisive analysis for the following countries/regions: China, Eastern Europe and Russia, Latin America, South East Asia, India and the Middle East.

PSIM for the Rest of Us!

I spent some time with Next Level Security Systems to learn more about their solutions.  Next Level Security Systems is a physical security company focused on developing a new breed of unified networked security products. Next Level’s products combine the performance, sophistication and functionality of enterprise-class security systems into a compact, unified and affordable package, enabling customers of all sizes to take advantage of these innovative networked solutions.

There Unified Security Platform or NLSS Gateway is a completely unique IP security solution. It combines video management, access control, video analytics, intrusion alerts and more onto a single networked platform that can be accessed from anywhere and at any time through a Web browser. Data from these subsystems is automatically correlated, providing users with a comprehensive view of security operations.

NLSS is headed by Peter Jankowski, there CEO & Chairman.  Prior to starting Next Level Security Systems, Peter Jankowski was the CTO of the Physical Security Business Unit at Cisco, focusing on digital video surveillance. Before joining Cisco, he was the CEO and CTO for SyPixx Networks where he was responsible for product design and direction of a suite of IP-based digital video products and solutions delivering broadcast quality digital video, audio and data to users over standard Ethernet/IP and fiber optic networks to the security, infrastructure and transportation markets. Cisco Systems acquired SyPixx in April of 2006.  Why Peter is important is this that he makes solutions that work.  To me that was why I looked further.

I see the power of systems integration as our future.  Next Level is still in their early stages, but in my opinion they are headed in the right direction.  PSIM software solutions are great for those with big budgets however you may want to take a look at NLSS for most of everyone else. Next Level Security Systems: http://www.nlss.com

·         Unified Solutions:  http://www.nlss.com/solutions.html

·         Video Management (VMS): http://www.nlss.com/productsgateway-video.html

·         Access Control:  http://www.nlss.com/productsgateway-access.html

·         Video Analytics: http://www.nlss.com/productsgateway-analytics.html

·         Intrusion: http://www.nlss.com/productsgateway-intrusion.html

·         HD Media Decoder: http://www.nlss.com/productsdecoder.html

NLSS has applications in Retail, Government, Commercial, Industrial, Education, Healthcare, Financial, Entertainment, Gamming and Residential. 

Since ADT purchased Proximex in April 2011, I believe that we may see pricing fall in the PSIM market and be more competitive for man verticals. However for many small and mid level clients and well as clients with multiple locations NLSS may be a good solution. For a demonstration, give me a call.