AA Blog
Loss Prevention Calculator: 5
Can loss prevention be free?: 3
Can Security Provide A Positive Return On Investment? The Loss Prevention Calculator Can Show You How!
As I was driving into work today I learned of a new convenience store that was opening next year in the Seattle area that would completely eliminate the need for cashiers. I found this to be very interesting since I work in the retail field. They plan to only use robots and technology to run the store, in order to eliminate the need for store employees, and make shopping more convenient. When I got to work I did a little more research on the subject and this is what I found. A major, primarily online retailer, is now advertising the creation of a new store that will allow customers to shop and pay without the need to checkout. The patent information indicates that they plan to use a combination of RFI technology and sensor fusion, among other technologies, to identify the products that you are picking up so they can automatically be added to your purchase list. This includes data from other inventory location devices such as scales, image analysis and pressure sensors, to name a few, that help to identify the item. They also plan to use customer shopping history and other data to help properly identify products. If the item is returned to the shelf it is designed so that the item is removed from your shopping list. When you are done shopping you simply leave the store, and the items are automatically charged to your account. I had several questions run through my head of course. For example, if there are no employees how do they deal with errors or adjustments, is that what the robots are for? Will this new technology help to minimize theft or increase the opportunity? Would someone be able to replace an item with a similar sized object to fool the system? What if they returned the item to a different inventory location? Can loss prevention be free? I understand this is still way out there for my imagination not to run wild, but I am curious how this will work. Although this is very exciting stuff, it does make me think about all of us small time store owners that don’t have the ability to have all of the latest and greatest technology that larger retailers have the access to. Until we get to that level, I would recommend you stick to what you can afford. The best way to make that determination is by checking out the loss prevention calculator.
The loss prevention calculator is a free tool that provides a real time look at what your security costs will be and what your return on investment (ROI) can be. As retailers we all need some level of security, determining what level of protection you need and at what cost, is key in determining our net profit margins. When it comes to security we can see a positive return on investment, in which loss prevention can ultimately pay for itself. The loss prevention calculator allows you to simply enter your annual sales numbers along with the cost of the security equipment you need, and it quickly estimates your shrinkage and shrinkage reductions, to determine how long it will take for your investment to provide a positive return. Although I think the new technology described by this new retail convenience store is innovative and may change the future of how we do business, I think we are a long ways off from it becoming an everyday reality.
Until we get to the point of I-Robot, I suggest you use the loss prevention calculator, to better understand the cost of security and what level of protection you need. Can loss prevention be free? In my experience it can be. When you look at the ROI you are getting by mitigating your risk and reducing shoplifting, it is clear that a viable loss prevention program can ultimately pay for itself. Don’t wait, the calculator is free, and can show you how quickly security can work to reduce shrinkage and increase profit.
Need information on the loss prevention calculator? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As I was driving into work today I learned of a new convenience store that was opening next year in the Seattle area that would completely eliminate the need for cashiers. I found this to be very interesting since I work in the retail field. They plan to only use robots and technology to run the store, in order to eliminate the need for store employees, and make shopping more convenient. When I got to work I did a little more research on the subject and this is what I found. A major, primarily online retailer, is now advertising the creation of a new store that will allow customers to shop and pay without the need to checkout. The patent information indicates that they plan to use a combination of RFI technology and sensor fusion, among other technologies, to identify the products that you are picking up so they can automatically be added to your purchase list. This includes data from other inventory location devices such as scales, image analysis and pressure sensors, to name a few, that help to identify the item. They also plan to use customer shopping history and other data to help properly identify products. If the item is returned to the shelf it is designed so that the item is removed from your shopping list. When you are done shopping you simply leave the store, and the items are automatically charged to your account. I had several questions run through my head of course. For example, if there are no employees how do they deal with errors or adjustments, is that what the robots are for? Will this new technology help to minimize theft or increase the opportunity? Would someone be able to replace an item with a similar sized object to fool the system? What if they returned the item to a different inventory location? Can loss prevention be free? I understand this is still way out there for my imagination not to run wild, but I am curious how this will work. Although this is very exciting stuff, it does make me think about all of us small time store owners that don’t have the ability to have all of the latest and greatest technology that larger retailers have the access to. Until we get to that level, I would recommend you stick to what you can afford. The best way to make that determination is by checking out the loss prevention calculator.
The loss prevention calculator is a free tool that provides a real time look at what your security costs will be and what your return on investment (ROI) can be. As retailers we all need some level of security, determining what level of protection you need and at what cost, is key in determining our net profit margins. When it comes to security we can see a positive return on investment, in which loss prevention can ultimately pay for itself. The loss prevention calculator allows you to simply enter your annual sales numbers along with the cost of the security equipment you need, and it quickly estimates your shrinkage and shrinkage reductions, to determine how long it will take for your investment to provide a positive return. Although I think the new technology described by this new retail convenience store is innovative and may change the future of how we do business, I think we are a long ways off from it becoming an everyday reality.
Until we get to the point of I-Robot, I suggest you use the loss prevention calculator, to better understand the cost of security and what level of protection you need. Can loss prevention be free? In my experience it can be. When you look at the ROI you are getting by mitigating your risk and reducing shoplifting, it is clear that a viable loss prevention program can ultimately pay for itself. Don’t wait, the calculator is free, and can show you how quickly security can work to reduce shrinkage and increase profit.
Need information on the loss prevention calculator? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Alpha Bug Tag 2-5 wc blog 289
I-pad theft-3
Tablet theft-3
Classic N10-3
Bugs In Hospitals Are Good When They Are Alpha Bug Tag 2’s Protecting Mobile Medical Devices
Having been a Boy Scout while growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors so I don’t get too bothered by bugs. Of course, that means bugs should be outdoors not in our homes, hotels, restaurants and certainly not in hospitals. When I saw stories about bugs in hospitals it kind of bugged me (pun intended). One example was a story about a hospital in Pikeville, Kentucky that had a bedbug problem in June of 2016. The hospital closed down the infected areas and cleaned up the problem without further incident. http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Pikeville-Medical-Center-working-to-eradicate-bed-bugs-382947921.html . There is one kind of bug that DOES have a place in a hospital and bedbugs are not it. You read that right, I am promoting one bug that hospitals SHOULD pursue bringing into the building. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 can be a welcome addition to hospitals that need to protect against tablet theft and i-pad theft if they use mobile medical devices to improve healthcare.
The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) anti-theft device that prevents theft through deterrence and EAS antenna activation. The tag is comprised of a reusable module containing the radio frequency components, alarm and LED flashing light and a disposable adhesive sled. The adhesive sled allows the module to be attached directly to mobile medical devices without damaging an i-pad, tablet or even a laptop. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is built to prevent tampering and unauthorized tag removal with an internal tamper alarm that sounds if a thief tries to take it off while attempting an i-pad theft or laptop theft. A built in LED light flashes as a deterrent to warn criminals the tag is present and active. If a protected mobile device is carried close to EAS antennas, such as a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna picks up the radio frequency signal emitting from the tag. The antenna then alarms and sounds a loud warning and flashes LED lights built into it. Medical staff can respond to the antenna alarm and prevent a device from being stolen from the facility. 3-alarm versions of the tag have an additional feature that causes the tag itself to alarm if it is carried past the EAS antennas, alerting personnel who it is that is trying to get away.
I want to quickly follow up on my mention of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. EAS antennas are necessary for the tags to fully function. While a tag itself may be a deterrent and will alarm if tampered with the EAS function is what prevents the actual tablet theft or i-pad theft. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 works hand in hand with the EAS antenna located at building entrances and other areas where the mobile device does not need to be carried; for example a public restroom. The Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is a perfect antenna for medical facilities because of the small footprint they take up so they don’t interfere with gurneys, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers etc. that may need extra doorway space.
What is the concern over the protection of mobile devices used in a medical facility? Aren’t these devices password protected to prevent access to stored information? While the medical tablet or i-pad may have protections, there is no guarantee the items are safe from hacking. Thieves could obtain patient medical records including billing information, prescription information, medical history, addresses etc. Such breaches of patient information have resulted in large fines for medical providers by the Department of Health and Human Services. Fines for improper handling of personal health information have been as high as 2.25 million dollars (CVS Pharmacy 2009, source; Healthcare IT News, “6 Biggest HIPPA Breach Fines”, Erin McCann, May 23, 2014. http://www.healthcareitnews.com/slideshow/6-biggest-hipaa-breach-fines?page=4 ). The use of anti-theft devices can keep medical mobile devices from being stolen and leaving a facility.
In a nutshell, yes, while pests such as bedbugs can be a concern, most medical facilities do a great job of staying bug free. That said, the one bug that should be brought in is the Alpha Bug Tag 2 to protect mobile medical devices. Protect patient information as well as property and stay fine free.
Alpha Bug Tag 2 is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Having been a Boy Scout while growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors so I don’t get too bothered by bugs. Of course, that means bugs should be outdoors not in our homes, hotels, restaurants and certainly not in hospitals. When I saw stories about bugs in hospitals it kind of bugged me (pun intended). One example was a story about a hospital in Pikeville, Kentucky that had a bedbug problem in June of 2016. The hospital closed down the infected areas and cleaned up the problem without further incident. http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Pikeville-Medical-Center-working-to-eradicate-bed-bugs-382947921.html. There is one kind of bug that DOES have a place in a hospital and bedbugs are not it. You read that right, I am promoting one bug that hospitals SHOULD pursue bringing into the building. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 can be a welcome addition to hospitals that need to protect against tablet theft and i-pad theft if they use mobile medical devices to improve healthcare.
The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) anti-theft device that prevents theft through deterrence and EAS antenna activation. The tag is comprised of a reusable module containing the radio frequency components, alarm and LED flashing light and a disposable adhesive sled. The adhesive sled allows the module to be attached directly to mobile medical devices without damaging an i-pad, tablet or even a laptop. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is built to prevent tampering and unauthorized tag removal with an internal tamper alarm that sounds if a thief tries to take it off while attempting an i-pad theft or laptop theft. A built in LED light flashes as a deterrent to warn criminals the tag is present and active. If a protected mobile device is carried close to EAS antennas, such as a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna picks up the radio frequency signal emitting from the tag. The antenna then alarms and sounds a loud warning and flashes LED lights built into it. Medical staff can respond to the antenna alarm and prevent a device from being stolen from the facility. 3-alarm versions of the tag have an additional feature that causes the tag itself to alarm if it is carried past the EAS antennas, alerting personnel who it is that is trying to get away.
I want to quickly follow up on my mention of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. EAS antennas are necessary for the tags to fully function. While a tag itself may be a deterrent and will alarm if tampered with the EAS function is what prevents the actual tablet theft or i-pad theft. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 works hand in hand with the EAS antenna located at building entrances and other areas where the mobile device does not need to be carried; for example a public restroom. The Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is a perfect antenna for medical facilities because of the small footprint they take up so they don’t interfere with gurneys, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers etc. that may need extra doorway space.
What is the concern over the protection of mobile devices used in a medical facility? Aren’t these devices password protected to prevent access to stored information? While the medical tablet or i-pad may have protections, there is no guarantee the items are safe from hacking. Thieves could obtain patient medical records including billing information, prescription information, medical history, addresses etc. Such breaches of patient information have resulted in large fines for medical providers by the Department of Health and Human Services. Fines for improper handling of personal health information have been as high as 2.25 million dollars (CVS Pharmacy 2009, source; Healthcare IT News, “6 Biggest HIPPA Breach Fines”, Erin McCann, May 23, 2014. http://www.healthcareitnews.com/slideshow/6-biggest-hipaa-breach-fines?page=4 ). The use of anti-theft devices can keep medical mobile devices from being stolen and leaving a facility.
In a nutshell, yes, while pests such as bedbugs can be a concern, most medical facilities do a great job of staying bug free. That said, the one bug that should be brought in is the Alpha Bug Tag 2 to protect mobile medical devices. Protect patient information as well as property and stay fine free.
Alpha Bug Tag 2 is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
O Tag- 4 WC Blog 300
Prevent Shoplifting-3
Retail Anti-Theft Device-3
Displaying merchandise can be tricky, especially when the merchandise is something that someone is going to want to try out. Take a bicycle for instance, how many times do you see someone sitting on a bike in a store, then start riding it? It happens fairly regularly because people want to know how something is going to look and feel before they purchase it. Infant strollers were an item that could be a big issue for my store from time to time. We had the display models tied down to the display shelf for customer safety and to prevent shoplifting. Often someone wanted to put their baby in it to see how they fit or they wanted to push a buggy to see how heavy it felt. Some of the strollers had hefty price points on them and you didn’t want to potentially lose a sale so you cut the tie down straps and took the stroller off of the shelf for the potential buyer. Sometimes the customers cut the straps themselves and you didn’t know they weren’t secure until you spot checked them at some point. Thieves also took the baby strollers off the display shelf and put their cute little babies in the buggy. The criminal strolled around the store until they felt comfortable walking out the door with one of our baby buggies. When I was trying to protect display baby strollers I had electronic article surveillance (EAS) soft tags I used to thwart thieves. Today there are even better retail anti-theft devices for this merchandise, the O tag by Alpha Security.
The O tag is a heavy duty, hard tag with a circular inner design. The tag is a single piece unit with a hinge that allows it to be opened and then secured around products that are tubular, such as golf clubs, baseball bats, cords for power tools and baby strollers. Once the tag is locked onto a piece of merchandise it requires a special detachment tool to take it off. Like other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security, the tags have a radio frequency (rf) coil built into them. This causes EAS antenna alarms to be set off when the tagged item is moved too close to an exit protected by an antenna. Alarm lights flash, a beeping noise blares and store employees are immediately alerted to a potential attempted shoplifting. I say attempted because often the alarms prevent shoplifting because the criminal abandons the merchandise and leaves when an alarm sounds. If they don’t run, an employee checks the receipt and validates the cause of the alarm and recovers the product.
It can be hard to ascertain if some items are being stolen because they can be worn, carried, or pushed around a store and look like it belongs to the person in possession of it. Backpacks are an example of this, if the tags are pulled off and a shoplifter puts it on and wears it through the building. If you don’t see them when they enter the store and you don’t see them tear the tags off, it can be touchy as to whether or not you should stop them and ask for a receipt. Being suspicious of someone is not sufficient grounds to make an accusation of theft. Infant strollers are the same. A shopper enters the store carrying a baby, goes to the strollers and removes tags, places the baby in it and rolls it through the store and out the door. I have had to make a few apprehensions involving baby buggies and I was always careful that I knew for sure the item belonged to the store. There are few things more uncomfortable for a Loss Prevention officer than to have to apprehend a parent with a child. Being absolutely certain eases some of the discomfort associated with such a stop. An Alpha O Tag can help easily identify merchandise that belongs to the store and prevent shoplifting, especially when placed in a visible location on a stroller frame.
Infant stroller theft does occur and possibly more frequently than you realize. Who wants to think a mom or dad would steal merchandise using their baby as a prop? Use an O Tag on your strollers as well as other merchandise you may carry that have tubular designs and put the brakes on free-wheeling crooks.
Get more information on O Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Displaying merchandise can be tricky, especially when the merchandise is something that someone is going to want to try out.Take a bicycle for instance, how many times do you see someone sitting on a bike in a store, then start riding it? It happens fairly regularly because people want to know how something is going to look and feel before they purchase it. Infant strollers were an item that could be a big issue for my store from time to time. We had the display models tied down to the display shelf for customer safety and to prevent shoplifting. Often someone wanted to put their baby in it to see how they fit or they wanted to push a buggy to see how heavy it felt. Some of the strollers had hefty price points on them and you didn’t want to potentially lose a sale so you cut the tie down straps and took the stroller off of the shelf for the potential buyer. Sometimes the customers cut the straps themselves and you didn’t know they weren’t secure until you spot checked them at some point. Thieves also took the baby strollers off the display shelf and put their cute little babies in the buggy. The criminal strolled around the store until they felt comfortable walking out the door with one of our baby buggies. When I was trying to protect display baby strollers I had electronic article surveillance (EAS) soft tags I used to thwart thieves. Today there are even better retail anti-theft devices for this merchandise, the O tag by Alpha Security.
The O tag is a heavy duty, hard tag with a circular inner design. The tag is a single piece unit with a hinge that allows it to be opened and then secured around products that are tubular, such as golf clubs, baseball bats, cords for power tools and baby strollers. Once the tag is locked onto a piece of merchandise it requires a special detachment tool to take it off. Like other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security, the tags have a radio frequency (rf) coil built into them. This causes EAS antenna alarms to be set off when the tagged item is moved too close to an exit protected by an antenna. Alarm lights flash, a beeping noise blares and store employees are immediately alerted to a potential attempted shoplifting. I say attempted because often the alarms prevent shoplifting because the criminal abandons the merchandise and leaves when an alarm sounds. If they don’t run, an employee checks the receipt and validates the cause of the alarm and recovers the product.
It can be hard to ascertain if some items are being stolen because they can be worn, carried, or pushed around a store and look like it belongs to the person in possession of it. Backpacks are an example of this, if the tags are pulled off and a shoplifter puts it on and wears it through the building. If you don’t see them when they enter the store and you don’t see them tear the tags off, it can be touchy as to whether or not you should stop them and ask for a receipt. Being suspicious of someone is not sufficient grounds to make an accusation of theft. Infant strollers are the same. A shopper enters the store carrying a baby, goes to the strollers and removes tags, places the baby in it and rolls it through the store and out the door. I have had to make a few apprehensions involving baby buggies and I was always careful that I knew for sure the item belonged to the store. There are few things more uncomfortable for a Loss Prevention officer than to have to apprehend a parent with a child. Being absolutely certain eases some of the discomfort associated with such a stop. An Alpha O Tag can help easily identify merchandise that belongs to the store and prevent shoplifting, especially when placed in a visible location on a stroller frame.
Infant stroller theft does occur and possibly more frequently than you realize. Who wants to think a mom or dad would steal merchandise using their baby as a prop? Use an O Tag on your strollers as well as other merchandise you may carry that have tubular designs and put the brakes on free-wheeling crooks.
Get more information on O Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA Blog 32
Checkpoint Labels: 5
Stop Shoplifting: 3
Checkpoint Labels Provide A Multi-Faceted Means to Stop Shoplifting and Avoid Price Swapping
When it comes to retail shoplifting, I have had my share of problems, but I have also learned a lot throughout the years. I have learned new ways to protect my store and my products from not only shoplifting in general, but from price switching and clearance tagging. I am not sure if this has been a problem for you in your store, but I know it was a huge problem for me. Of course we weren’t locating these issues on the front end, but instead we were finding them after the sale, when we were netting our losses. We had a large problem, with people switching prices or adding clearance stickers to expensive items, which included returns for full price credits on the same items. It was a problem that was significantly affecting our bottom line and we knew we had to do something about it. We just weren’t sure how we could stop shoplifting of this type, without requiring management approval for every sale item. This as you know would be time consuming and an irritation to our loyal customers. I had discussed these issues with some of my counterparts to see what they were doing to prevent this type of activity in their stores. Some of them had changed their brand of labels, so they would adhere better, but that still wasn’t fool proof. I wanted a way to ensure that our labels were being utilized to the best of our ability without added expense. That was when I discovered Checkpoint Labels.
Checkpoint Labels are the perfect way to prevent price swapping. These labels can be easily printed in store, so you can print the label with your pricing and your store logo on site at a low cost. These labels once applied, cannot be removed without damaging the label. They are also equipped with EAS technology to stop shoplifting. They are a multi-faceted tool to protect all your products. They come in various sizes and shapes to meet all of your needs, and a new label can easily be re-applied in the event of a sale. This eliminates the need for a secondary sales tag, which can be swapped to other non-sale items. Having the ability to quickly adjust pricing in store, is an ideal way to protect your products while saving time and money. It also makes for a good shopping experience for your customers, by reducing time and hassle during the checkout process. Checkpoint Labels also offer a clear label that can be placed over the existing barcode, which adds EAS technology and prevents price swapping all in one label.
Preventing shoplifting is an ongoing battle, regardless of the method in which it is occurring. I know I have struggled with managing this problem from all angles, but I do know that Checkpoint Labels have substantially reduced my loss. They work on so many levels to protect my property, which makes for a cost-effective means to stop shoplifting. I have purchased the label makers, which really helps me manage my pricing more effectively in store. They come in large rolls that allow me to manage my products and my security at a low cost, with very little effort. I love how handy they are, and unlike other cheap labels, I know they won’t peel off, and they work more effectively in alerting my staff when a breach occurs. Now anytime a fellow retailer comes to me about their personal store issues, I can pass on the knowledge I have learned, and hopefully help them in their loss prevention efforts. Helping one another is key in this field.
Get more information on Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When it comes to retail shoplifting, I have had my share of problems, but I have also learned a lot throughout the years. I have learned new ways to protect my store and my products from not only shoplifting in general, but from price switching and clearance tagging. I am not sure if this has been a problem for you in your store, but I know it was a huge problem for me. Of course we weren’t locating these issues on the front end, but instead we were finding them after the sale, when we were netting our losses. We had a large problem, with people switching prices or adding clearance stickers to expensive items, which included returns for full price credits on the same items. It was a problem that was significantly affecting our bottom line and we knew we had to do something about it. We just weren’t sure how we could stop shoplifting of this type, without requiring management approval for every sale item. This as you know would be time consuming and an irritation to our loyal customers. I had discussed these issues with some of my counterparts to see what they were doing to prevent this type of activity in their stores. Some of them had changed their brand of labels, so they would adhere better, but that still wasn’t fool proof. I wanted a way to ensure that our labels were being utilized to the best of our ability without added expense. That was when I discovered Checkpoint Labels.
Checkpoint Labels are the perfect way to prevent price swapping. These labels can be easily printed in store, so you can print the label with your pricing and your store logo on site at a low cost. These labels once applied, cannot be removed without damaging the label.They are also equipped with EAS technology to stop shoplifting. They are a multi-faceted tool to protect all your products. They come in various sizes and shapes to meet all of your needs, and a new label can easily be re-applied in the event of a sale. This eliminates the need for a secondary sales tag, which can be swapped to other non-sale items. Having the ability to quickly adjust pricing in store, is an ideal way to protect your products while saving time and money. It also makes for a good shopping experience for your customers, by reducing time and hassle during the checkout process. Checkpoint Labels also offer a clear label that can be placed over the existing barcode, which adds EAS technology and prevents price swapping all in one label.
Preventing shoplifting is an ongoing battle, regardless of the method in which it is occurring. I know I have struggled with managing this problem from all angles, but I do know that Checkpoint Labels have substantially reduced my loss. They work on so many levels to protect my property, which makes for a cost-effective means to stop shoplifting. I have purchased the label makers, which really helps me manage my pricing more effectively in store. They come in large rolls that allow me to manage my products and my security at a low cost, with very little effort. I love how handy they are, and unlike other cheap labels, I know they won’t peel off, and they work more effectively in alerting my staff when a breach occurs. Now anytime a fellow retailer comes to me about their personal store issues, I can pass on the knowledge I have learned, and hopefully help them in their loss prevention efforts. Helping one another is key in this field.
Get more information on Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Door Counting Sensor- 3 wc blog 267
Customer Counting System-4
Retail Traffic Counting System-3
Customer Counting Systems Can Help Convert Foot Traffic Into Improved Sales And Reduced Shrink Part 2
In Part 1 of this 2 part series I discussed the potential for customer counting systems to help improve in-store marketing efforts by taking advantage of data that can be provided by a VisiPlus people counting system. Overhead sensors can be strategically installed in locations where high profile displays or endcaps may be set up to attract customers and generate sales. If information from these sensors determines that foot traffic is not increasing or garnering the attention intended by managers, the display can be changed out rather than taking up space. New displays can be set up or changed out to get the desired effect. Another advantage that a VisiPlus retail traffic counting system offers is being able to determine electronic article surveillance activity at your entrance/exits. If you can take steps to make your theft prevention efforts more effective, you not only drive down merchandise shrink, you send thieves to other stores.
I’ve spent a lot of time already talking about advantages of a retail counting system, specifically Checkpoint’s VisiPlus customer counting system, but I do need to take a minute to explain what it is. VisiPlus is a retail traffic counting system that is attached to your Checkpoint electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas and collects information on the number of customers entering and exiting the store, and EAS alarm activity that takes place. You will receive reports that break down patron traffic by time of day. The information can aid a management team in creating better scheduling models to help make a better customer service environment. More employees at the times of heaviest customer traffic translate to improved sales as cashiers are available to checkout patrons with less wait time. There will also be more employees available to assist on the salesfloor. This in turn improves the ability to help customers find what they are looking for and increased salesfloor coverage also serves to deter shoplifters who seek out stores where there is little or no attention paid to customers. The VisiPlus system also has overhead sensors that can be installed in strategic salesfloor areas to assist in tracking foot traffic near promotional displays.
I now want to get back to the topic of a door counting sensor reducing shrink and improving profits. If a store is practicing good electronic article surveillance alarm response at the front doors, they are keeping a log of alarm activations and the causes of those alarms. Having worked as a Loss Prevention Manager for many years, I know that many alarms were not recorded in our log book. I rarely had a true picture of exactly how many alarms were activated during the day and, therefore, could not measure whether our supervisors or cashiers were responding to alarms properly. It also made it difficult to determine if I was experiencing any malfunction issues with our EAS antennas. The VisiPlus door counting sensor records EAS alarm activations in a daily report. Management can use the report information compared to the alarm response book and determine if alarms are being properly addressed. If not, retraining can be conducted for front end employees. They can also look for indications of excessive alarms that could be indicative of system problems. Since the report breaks down activity by time of day, possible theft trends can be determined and action plans created to stem the issues.
A door counting sensor doesn’t have to be limited to the traditional idea of a retail traffic counting system only numbering the people entering and leaving your business. A customer counting system can help you increase sales and decrease theft with accurate data reporting and timeline breakdowns. Count on more from your customer counting system than just people, count on sales growth too!
Need information on a retail traffic counting system? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
In Part 1 of this 2 part series I discussed the potential for customer counting systems to help improve in-store marketing efforts by taking advantage of data that can be provided by a VisiPlus people counting system. Overhead sensors can be strategically installed in locations where high profile displays or endcaps may be set up to attract customers and generate sales. If information from these sensors determines that foot traffic is not increasing or garnering the attention intended by managers, the display can be changed out rather than taking up space. New displays can be set up or changed out to get the desired effect. Another advantage that a VisiPlus retail traffic counting system offers is being able to determine electronic article surveillance activity at your entrance/exits. If you can take steps to make your theft prevention efforts more effective, you not only drive down merchandise shrink, you send thieves to other stores.
I’ve spent a lot of time already talking about advantages of a retail counting system, specifically Checkpoint’s VisiPlus customer counting system, but I do need to take a minute to explain what it is. VisiPlus is a retail traffic counting system that is attached to your Checkpoint electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas and collects information on the number of customers entering and exiting the store, and EAS alarm activity that takes place. You will receive reports that break down patron traffic by time of day. The information can aid a management team in creating better scheduling models to help make a better customer service environment. More employees at the times of heaviest customer traffic translate to improved sales as cashiers are available to checkout patrons with less wait time. There will also be more employees available to assist on the salesfloor. This in turn improves the ability to help customers find what they are looking for and increased salesfloor coverage also serves to deter shoplifters who seek out stores where there is little or no attention paid to customers. The VisiPlus system also has overhead sensors that can be installed in strategic salesfloor areas to assist in tracking foot traffic near promotional displays.
I now want to get back to the topic of a door counting sensor reducing shrink and improving profits. If a store is practicing good electronic article surveillance alarm response at the front doors, they are keeping a log of alarm activations and the causes of those alarms. Having worked as a Loss Prevention Manager for many years, I know that many alarms were not recorded in our log book. I rarely had a true picture of exactly how many alarms were activated during the day and, therefore, could not measure whether our supervisors or cashiers were responding to alarms properly. It also made it difficult to determine if I was experiencing any malfunction issues with our EAS antennas. The VisiPlus door counting sensor records EAS alarm activations in a daily report. Management can use the report information compared to the alarm response book and determine if alarms are being properly addressed. If not, retraining can be conducted for front end employees. They can also look for indications of excessive alarms that could be indicative of system problems. Since the report breaks down activity by time of day, possible theft trends can be determined and action plans created to stem the issues.
A door counting sensor doesn’t have to be limited to the traditional idea of a retail traffic counting system only numbering the people entering and leaving your business. A customer counting system can help you increase sales and decrease theft with accurate data reporting and timeline breakdowns. Count on more from your customer counting system than just people, count on sales growth too!
Need information on a retail traffic counting system? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
