Improving industrial security with DVRs

Many studies have demonstrated that the cost of lost assets to companies is quite big. The security solution resembled by the DVR technology has been proven to minimize this type of loss in a cost-effective method.

The damage and even theft of industrial assets starts as a risk to manufacturers, distributors, shipping companies as well as suppliers. Corporations and companies can anticipate to see a portion of the goods stolen or damaged when relocated from the raw materials supplier, to the manufacturing location, to distribution centers and finally to retail shops.

On top of the finished goods, manufacturers must defend and guard the raw inputs, which can have a significantly high price. The manufacturers must always protect assets against burglaries and employee theft regardless if these assets are hard drives for DVRs or copper coils for air coolers. An incorporated mixture of DVRs, burglar alarms and access management interfaces act together as an efficient prevention and a tool to verify and prosecute lawbreakers.

Subsequent to manufacturing, products are shipped by various means and routes to channel partners or consumers. The successful deployment of intermediate cargo storage and warehouses properties is based on the capability to supply clients with an environment that is both secure from the elements and protected against theft and vandalism or damage.

Protecting the Shipments

An extensive and prominent U.S. cargo handling service is the caretaker of cargo from the time that if first enters into the warehouses until it finally leaves the property. The cargo manager must constantly demonstrate its capability to keep freight secure to protect its reputation as a cargo supervisor.

By using Dedicated Micros' DVRs and network viewers the staff members can easily monitor multi-city sites on a 24/7 intervals. The interface is primarily used as a theft deterrence, resolution of insurance arguments and as a marketing tool to show operations to potential patrons. A variety of business operators can benefit extensively from the technology of mobile DVR surveillance including manufacturers, distributors and retailers, even shipping vehicles. For example the DVRs can embed GPS data in the video and set off alarms when the vehicle deviates from the scheduled routes due to truck hijackings for instance. Not to mention that some even have a built-in inertia detector that can mark when the vehicle makes a stop or suddenly swerves, which could have damaging effects on the shipments Several studies have shown that inventory losses have a considerable impact on corporate profitability, specifically at the retail store level.

Shrinkage in Retail

 
According to the 2005 National Retail Security survey conducted by the Security Research Project at the University of Florida the U.S. retail industry alone has lost an estimated $37.4 billion each year due to shrinkage. More than forty percent of this loss has to do with employee theft, which in fact outweighs the cost of shoplifting to retailers by a wide range (33 percent). The overall loss comes down to about an average of 1.57 percent of sales all across the retailers, but this percentage is considerably higher in certain regions of the market such as supermarkets in which it is usually close to 2.39 percent.

On the other hand, only 2.74 percent of retail theft losses were recovered in 2004, according to the 17th Annual Retail Theft survey carried out by Jack L. Hayes International.

The coming out of organized retail theft has enlarged the risk to assets in a broad assortment of businesses. In addition to that, criminals are also targeting high-value assets from transporters, manufacturers, retailers and distributors.

Based on the National Retail Theft survey conducted in 2005, the average loss associated with each non-employee, shoplifting theft occurrences has increased from $265 in 2003 to about $802 in the year 2005 alone. Due to the high value of assets lost in ORT-related incidents it is believed that organized retail theft is at least partially accountable for the increase.

The security DVR systems have become a priceless tool in many organizations' attempts to improve the bottom line by lowering loss of assets. According to the type of business, the biggest threat of loss may come from employee scams, theft of product or damage/vandalism to vehicles and other assets used to carry out the various business operations.

The IP-enabled DVRs enable businesses to install enhanced and enhanced asset protection measures with minimal complexity and investment. When incorporated with other asset control interfaces, DVRs can decrease the level of asset theft and/or vandalism. The reimbursement period on DVR-based, asset control investments can be short for companies that are currently operating with minimal defense.

Utilizing a networked DVRs in order to observe assets and inspect incidents remotely from a centralized asset protection/loss prevention property is a recently growing trend. This innovative technique allows for instant access to live video or incident footage without the cost or delay of going up to the site of the occurrence.

Incorporated enhancements

Basic supervising of assets with DVRs will prevent theft and assist in prosecuting criminals; however the full benefit is attained when DVRs are incorporated with access control, point-of-sale, loss prevention, and other systems and detectors. From the time when VCR surveillance systems used to be popular, it has been verified that the integration of POS systems with video is an efficient way to deter incidents of cashier theft and to identify troublesome workers. On the other hand, Modern DVRs can supply much more automatic processes when incorporated directly with POS systems than using the technique of overlaying transaction information from the receipt printing machine onto a video of a VCR.

This allows the DVR systems to be set off by suspicious transactions such as void, no sale, refund, or any other irregular form of operation. Not to mention that the units can also utilize motion or other detectors to increase record rate to reposition a PTZ camera onto a precise location or to alert a centralized supervising center of the incident in the time that the indecent actually took place. Similar in importance, the visual footage associated with the events can be quickly found in follow-up examinations as needed.

In addition to that, specific applications are demanded by certain retail verticals. For example, the primary concern for many gas stations is to be able to obtain a clear shot of the license plates in order to monitor for drive-offs. On the other hand, car dealerships survey "at risk" fleets of new vehicles to deter and record occurrences of vandalism or theft.

Not to mention that some companies also utilize DVRs to m minimize asset damage by supervising adherence to operational protocols.

Minimization of theft by DVR-based asset protection interfaces, combined with observable securing cameras, has three primary factors.

Deterrence of robbery due to fear of getting arrested.

Instant and live alerts of doubtful sales transactions, unlawful access to storage properties and inappropriate use of resources.

A comprehensive trends examination to verify and investigate improper asset handling or other operations.

Saving money

Numerous additional industries are now taking full advantage of IP-enabled DVRs to decrease loss of resources and enhance financial performance.

For instance, a banking company whose chief asset is cash can benefit greatly by using DVR systems to combat robberies and prevent customer fraud incidents. In addition to that, many bank properties utilize hybrid DVRs (those that can take both IP and analog cameras) with high-image resolution IP cameras to exchange the traditional 35 millimeter, analog film cameras that watch doorways and other various entry points. Furthermore, many of these megapixel, IP cameras enable examiners to digitally zoom in on recorded visual footage to increase the probability of verifying criminals.

Not to mention that many banks also use DVRs to record visual footage of ATM and teller-line operations as an attempt to record fraudulent operations. Due to the fact that this transaction footage is usually saved for ninety days or so, it is vital that the DVR embed the transaction information within the footage so disputed operations can be rapidly pin pointed. Moreover, Specialty interface apparatus is also needed to intercept transaction information from the many ATMs that still use traditional, bi-sync communications hocked up to bank interfaces.

Infrastructure Supervision

As expected, the various utilities make widespread use of DVRs to supervise assets and resources. Believe it or not, for many of these properties, the main asset is the infrastructure, as the loss of assets consequences in both replacement expenses and lost service costs. Luckily, IP-enabled DVRs enable utility supervisors to monitor key facilities in the electrical, gas, water, telephone or other networks remotely and directly after the detectors sense troubles.

In regards to utility assets the risks are more likely to be due to vandalism or weather related incidents (such as high temperatures, flooding, lightning, and high winds) rather than theft or robbery. However remote monitors of visual footage incorporated with the proper detectors can minimize asset damage by enabling rapid assessment and resolution of the issue of concern.

A large number of applications demand real-time notification of asset problems while others are simply gathering data for use in analysis and/or trend examination.

Believe it or not all DVRs are compatible for asset control interfaces, and each organization considering a DVR deployment will have a unique set of asset control demands. As a general rule, patrons should look for a DVR solution that addresses the most common asset control needs along with flexible incorporation and modification abilities.

Combining the features

In our time and age the asset control features to look for include some of the time-tested fundamentals and some new abilities specific to the application.

Furthermore, for incorporation with POS and ATM transactions, the DVR must have the ability of embedding data in video footages. In addition to that, the technology can include, bar codes, RFID tags, GPS or weight scale information that is time-stamped and connected with one or more cameras of security.

Not to mention that the DVR must also have a flexible set of notification triggers that includes video motion detection, physical alarm inputs as well as transaction text keyword matches.

On top of that the DVR should provide a flexible set of reactions to include increased record rates, increased resolution and minimized compression, for higher quality, on the individual cameras related to the alarm as soon as the notification alarm is set off or turned on.

On the other hand, DVRs with a software development equipment enable the vendor or approved partners to establish custom software incorporations with sales and inventory systems, supplying an open architecture option for consumers.

A great number of the newer asset management systems require communication over TCP/IP, with IP-enabled DVRs which is different from the traditional asset management systems that require a direct, physical connection for incorporation. Search for a producer that supplies incorporations with the majority of the popular POS systems and resources in order to rapidly add custom solutions.

And let us not forget that the effort needed to control and maintain DVR systems varies extensively among sellers, which requires this aspect of the system to be evaluated watchfully. Also, a central control device should be available for viewing permission tasks, application upgrades and DVR settings backup as well as restoration across the entire security interface.

In addition to that the utilization of an embedded operating system instead of a PC-based DVR will significantly minimize maintenance costs by eliminating the requirement to install operating system patches on a monthly basis. Not to mention that the supplier should also provide a health monitor for automated, proactive announcement of maintenance or repair needs.

Last of all, be on the look out for a DVR that supplies easy verification, extraction and presentation of evidence on video footage. Due tot the fact that the video of theft or damage to assets will be required for investigations and verifications, it is vital that the DVR provide search tools to easily find incident footage for analysis.

Furthermore, the DVR should also offer an easy method of establishing auto-run evidence DVDs or CDs, and proven methods must be deployed to show that there has been no interference or meddling in the video on the CDs of evidence from the time it was first extracted from the DVR system.

Dedicated Micros' monitor Security systems IP-enabled defense DVR-based network footage remotely VCR surveillance Modern POS PTZ camera megapixel digitally zoom ATM RFID tags TCP/IP PC-based CDs DVDs