Using Security Cameras in Small Businesses

Is It Necessary to Have Security Cameras and Surveillance Systems in Small Businesses?

From shoplifting, to employee theft, to credit card fraud, small business owners indeed have it tougher than ever when it comes to protecting their company from unwanted and troublesome losses.  It has been studied that over 70% of businesses worldwide “express concern regarding information and/or physical security of their company assets.”

If you are a small business owner in an unsure economy, it is highly advised that now is the right time to take security, safety and protection very seriously.  The lack of security and safety could actually be the number one reason why a flourishing company fails.  According to research, over 20% of consumers actually terminated a relationship or just stopped availing a company’s products and/or services after being notified of a security violation.

In any small business, this kind of breach is definitely not tolerated.  How can you protect your assets and make sure that your company is totally safe and secure for consumers?

Using VDMS to Help Protect Your Customers and Your Business

Protecting a company, whether it is still in its startup stage or it is gradually flourishing, is no longer only about recording footages from a single surveillance camera at the store front.  Nowadays, it is common to see retailers and small businesses searching for better options against crimes such as shoplifting or under pricing at the counter.  An essential tool that can promote security protection in businesses such as retail shops can be the video data management system or VDMS.

A video data management system (VDMS) can associate financial transactions with video; therefore, a company has a video overview of each and every financial data as the transaction occurs.  This is a very important factor when it comes to the purpose of protecting your customers and it also gives you the capability of seeing the full financial and security aspect of the company.

Opportunistic Criminals

One of the most appealing places for any criminal to target is usually an unsecured or unguarded retail store.  For experienced shoplifters, it is fairly easy to pocket any merchandise especially when there is only a single security camera present and only situated at the front of the store, when no one is around, or even when the entire store is very busy.

Based on the studies conducted by the national security statistics, theft is considered to be strongest around the holiday season, when most of the stores are jam-packed with customers and the usually “watchful eyes” of the store employees are busy at the counters, assisting other customers or restocking shelves.

The very first line of defense that business owners can definitely depend on is by having a quality turn-key surveillance solution – with well-placed video surveillance cameras throughout the store.  Most of the times, just the simple fact of having a surveillance system that is well-situated and obvious to each and every customer and employee can be adequate enough to deter theft and shoplifting.

Return on Investment

Budget is always one of the biggest concerns in any type of business.  Does purchasing a surveillance system for the company business worth the price?  According to national police data, by installing and using security cameras in small businesses, you can actually benefit a business and still end up having a huge return on investment.  This is especially true for smaller business establishments such as restaurants or boutiques.

With the aid of optimal video footage, there is the chance to significantly minimize the occurrence of shoplifting, “sweethearting” or otherwise known as lowering prices at the register, and even reducing a worker’s compensation suits.  Almost all users of these surveillance systems also report that there is a higher quality of employee output as the employees sense that they are also under surveillance.

A Surveillance System can Tremendously Help in Preventing Losses in Businesses

A very important factor for every business owner is loss prevention.  As a matter of fact, based on research, nearly about 400 billion dollars in productivity costs are lost each year due to recovery efforts after a theft.

As a business owner, if you own a proper and well-executed security system, you can definitely save precious time, money and effort when you do not have to account for stolen goods or reduced pricing at the counter.

Some Basic Tips to Know Before Getting a Surveillance System

Surveillance systems are one of the most crucial tools in business security.  Before you get a surveillance system, it is advised that you have to know several technical and policy issues.  Below are 5 questions that can help you make the right decisions.

1.  How can I monitor my business without violating my employees’ right to privacy?

Prevention of internal theft, violence and drug use are all valid reasons to have surveillance in the work area.  Such activities can cost your business big time in terms of decreased productivity, lost inventory and even injury.   However, while you are fully responsible in protecting your company’s bottom line, you also have to respect your employees’ right to privacy.  Letting your employees know about the presence of surveillance cameras in the workplace and making them understand why you have put them there is usually enough to have them agree with your safey and security decisions in the work area.

2.  What are the ideal locations for setting up security cameras?

In order to fully implement the investigative and deterrent value from your security cameras, you have to carefully choose where you place them.  The four best places where to put your security cameras are: entrances and exits, customer transaction points (such as kiosks, teller stations and cash registers), targets (such as jewelry cabinets, safes, filing cabinets, cash drawers or any place that a thief may target), and secluded areas (such as back alleys and parking lots).

3.  Can I still record video footage even in direct sunlight?

Bright light such as direct sunlight can totally ruin the video footages that your security camera captures.  There are two ways to solve this problem: by buying a security camera unit that is built to capture images even in bright light, or by just situating your typical security camera in a way that even if there is bright light, it can still clearly record footage.  Simply put, situate the camera just beneath the entrance or exit door instead of directly facing the door.

4.  What kind of recorder must I use?

Recording images from your security cameras lets you investigate criminal activities or accidents afterwards.  Research or consult a professional in order to fully optimize your surveillance system for your business.

5.  What must I look for in a video contractor?

Even if the market is plenty of DIY surveillance video equipment, an experienced professional is still well worth the added expense.