Larger department stores and pharmacies now have remote monitoring of their camera systems. Due to of the number of stores, these larger chains can have one location watching the cameras for various locations to spot shoplifting. They can then alert the local security personnel of suspicious activities, while saving thousands of dollars compared to each store having to do this individually.
The cameras have evolved as well and can be set to automatically follow any individual in the store. If the remote security person sees activities that they think are suspicious, they can instruct the camera to follow that person throughout the store on their shopping spree. This makes it easier for the security camera feed watchers as they are handling various viewing screens at a time and do not have to manually move the cameras as well.
Security towers
Companies are also now using a remote method of tech support for their security towers. Many stop shoplifting retail security towers need to be tuned or tweeked at least once a year, or more depending on environmental factors. The cost of sending a technician onsite has risen to $250 per hour with usually a three-hour minimum ($750 total) plus parts. To control these costs, a monthly subscription of a piece of software that runs across the store’s broadband Wi-Fi connection puts the technician in charge of adjusting the security tower’s sensitivity controls remotely from a home office. The only cost is the monthly subscription for the service, which can run $25 to $125 depending upon services and brand. The software can give important data to the storeowner in regards to number of alarms, time of day, people counts, etc.
Telephone technicians
Another way of addressing the expensive cost of an onsite technician is the telephone technician. With todays technology, cell phones can send pictures of your security tower’s environment and electronic boards to a tech who can help you right on the phone to make manual adjustments to any of the systems. Companies like Sensortags.com provides this service free to their customers and at a minimal charge ($199) to non customers as an inexpensive option to an onsite technician. Sensortags even manufactures and distributes baseplates that make some of the other systems that are normally drilled into the floor, plug and play with no holes in the floor. This too is an advantage to companies that lease their location, as some leases will state that if you bolt it down it becomes property of the landlord.
Mobility of the security tower on a baseplate also comes in handy when you want to open both doors and get something big in or out of the store. Security towers fastened to baseplates also makes it easier to tech support over the phone because the tower can be moved to test for environmental issues. One easy test for a mono type system (one that feels both right and left, bilaterally) is to turn it 90 degrees. If the false alarming stops then you know the interference is to the right or left of the tower.
The days of a store owner calling in for help, waiting two weeks to get a tech scheduled out to look at the system, then waiting another two weeks for parts to arrive and be installed are a thing of the past. Today, remote camera monitoring, remote security tower monitoring and cell phone support via text/talk with a technician is all done at the speed of light.