Wednesday 19 December 2012

The Importance Of An Electronic Article Surveillance For Your Business

By Brandi Little


Maintaining a retail store involves challenges from different perspectives such as selecting and managing the appropriate merchandise mix, employing and training the right store personal, maintaining good customer relations along with controlling cost and keeping shrink at bay. Reports indicate that about 80 percent of retail stores loss is due to external and internal theft. Most retailers have tried different security systems, but with the help of an electronic article surveillance system, you can reduce losses and shrinkage significantly as a high visible system will keep the employees and customers honest and send shoplifters away.

Installation of a security system gives you peace of mind and enough time to concentrate on serving your customers, expanding the business and consequently less time monitoring the movement of suspicious customers. The system, however, cannot fully protect you from shrinkage and losses, but the small percentage protection can yield profits. That is why much emphasis is put in investing in such a safety measure.

A thorough understanding of the safety arrangement is critical in helping you seize technologically informed shoplifters who may try to bypass it. The safety arrangement uses tags or labels that are fixed on each item in the store. Any removal of an item from the shelves will require a deactivation otherwise; the system will raise an alarm and consequently minimizing the risk of theft and package pilferage.

The technology used in this device comprises a transmitter that sends a defined radio frequency to the receiver forming a detection area. If any tagged item is introduced within the zone a disturbance is created and the item detected by the system receiver. This mechanism, therefore, can help you to tremendously reduce security cost.

The diversity of retailing business, has seen different technologies been used in manufacturing these devices, which may include electromagnetic systems, radio frequency systems, acoustic magnetic systems and others. The mechanism used in all these technologies is the same whereby a tag is put on an item and activated in the main system, which is eventually deactivated during item purchase. If the item is lifted out of the store without deactivation, then a sound will be produced alerting everyone leading to identification of the culprit.

The device can help you effectively if the employees are well trained. This will help them to deal with any gate activation as well as recognize the seasonal tricks used by thieves to their advantage with this security parameter. Retrain your work force after few months and ensure that all gate activations are addressed systematically.

You can also add other security details such as monitoring cameras, sensors, inventory monitoring systems and security guards to boost the security system already in place. In addition, it is necessary to make sure all hiding places are cleared and entry points well maintained. Staffs should be told to constantly ask customers if they need any help especially those who look nervous or suspicious.

It is critical to employ electronic article surveillance system in order to reduce losses and shrinkage of your business. The benefits of this system override its cost. For more details on retail security systems consult a security firm either online or locally.




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