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.
