Retailers, whether large or small, are haunted by shoplifters on a daily basis. This leads to huge losses in sales and stocks. Even though shops put in place various security measures, many still find themselves unable to prevent shoplifting completely. CCTV cameras and other traditional methods may deter shoplifting, but they don’t STOP it.
The strategies used must be dynamic as the industry itself changes.
One of such innovative approaches is the integration of unattended dispensers which require prior payment in order to access the product.
Ways of Preventing Shoplifting
To prevent shoplifting effectively, retailers can apply a combination of approaches:
Increased Surveillance: Setting up great quality CCTV cameras at critical points can discourage prospective thieves and provide invaluable evidence whenever there is a case of theft.
Security Tags with Alarms: Placing RFID or EAS tags on high-value products may sound alarms if someone goes out the store with no deactivation done on that item thereby notifying the staff about possible burglary.
Staff Training: Teaching workers how to spot suspicious signs and deal with them accordingly would help minimise cases where goods disappear from the retail outlet.
Store layout: Designing store layouts with no blind spots can keep areas of high customer traffic under surveillance and discourage could-be thieves.
Unattended Sales Systems: Taking security a step further, there are unmanned dispensing systems that restrict access to merchandise without prior payment.
Benefits of Unattended Sales for Preventing Shoplifting
In retail today, unattended sales systems are increasingly common, operating not only with optimal efficiency but also having solid security features. There are many merits which these systems bear in respect to shoplifting prevention hence they are indispensable components of modern retail safeguarding strategies.
1. Increased Accountability - To begin with, unattended sales systems come with greater staff accountability. Onboard inventory management systems detail every item dispensed and prevention of retail theft is as simple as defining key access to the dispensers.
Such automated monitoring leads to a highly secure environment where internal theft becomes much more difficult.
Comprehensive Record-Keeping- The system records every selection made from the time a product was picked out until the final transaction. This comprehensive record-keeping makes it easy to identify any deviations or variances in inventory, thus making corrective action prompt.
Reduced Human Error- Automation of the entire process reduces chances of human error. It is also a security measure since it cuts down on cases where products are not accounted for due to manual errors.
2. Deterrence - Unattended dispensers serve as an effective deterrent to potential shoplifters in their midst. These systems require valid payment or authorization before any goods are released, making it impossible for theft to occur.
Barrier to Theft - Unlike traditional retail setups where items are easily accessible on shelves, unattended dispensers create a physical and procedural barrier to theft. Shoplifters cannot simply grab items and walk away; they must interact with the payment system to enable product access.
Psychological Impact - Once shoplifters know that goods are sold from unattended dispensers in any given shop, they simply stop visiting the stores utilising these systems.
Visibility of Security Measures - The visibility of advanced security measures also plays a role in deterrence. When a potential thief notices that the store has certain technologies meant for preventing shoplifting, they may not proceed with their plan of stealing.
3. Cost-Effective Security- Instead of hiring more guards or investing mainly in CCTV cameras coupled with RFID tags, retailers can adopt investment in unattended sales systems for enhanced cost-effective security measures.
Reduced Need for Physical Security: By automating the sales process and incorporating robust security features, unattended systems reduce the need for constant physical monitoring by staff or security personnel. This implies large savings in terms of labour costs.
Lower Maintenance Costs: Unlike human security teams that require ongoing training, wages, and benefits, unattended systems have lower long-term maintenance costs. These systems can be installed and operated once with minimal intervention, which guarantees uninterrupted protection without the associated overheads of manual security measures.
Traditional Security Measures Vs. Unattended: Preventative measures have always been in place to deter theft; however, only unattended systems are 100% effective. The value of unattended dispensing is enhanced by the continuity of prevention, returning the profit year after year with a once-off investment.
4. Staff Safety- An often-overlooked advantage of unattended sales systems is that these enhance the safety of employees working in stores by reducing direct confrontations between staff and potential shoplifters.
No More Confrontations: Most times a retail setting would mean the staff members watching over customers for potential thieves they would need to engage directly. This exposes such employees to violent or aggressive circumstances unlike any other. The automated nature of sales via unmanned systems also minimises chances of physical confrontation thereby removing such risks associated with manned operations.
Customer Service Centred: With the security aspect handled by the unattended system, staff can focus on providing excellent customer service in areas that require personal interaction.
Stress Reduction: This is because the responsibility of preventing shoplifting can be stressful for employees, especially in areas with high rates of theft. Unattended systems ease this burden, leading to a more relaxed and positive working environment.
How Dispensers Can Prevent Shoplifting?
Unattended dispensers are a powerful defence against shoplifting:
Controlled Access: Customers must pre-pay or validate their purchase before an item is released from the dispenser. This controlled access only allows for legitimate transactions that result in dispensed goods, making it nearly impossible for thieves to steal.
Automated Monitoring: Each dispenser features real-time inventory tracking systems and transaction monitoring devices. A momentary inconsistency is immediately detected, thereby allowing for quick investigation and resolution.
Inventory Protection: By holding onto items securely until a transaction is completed, dispensers prevent high-value products from being easily accessible to shoplifters. Apart from securing stocks, it also reduces demands for constant supervision by staff members.
In conclusion, automated sales systems and dispensers offer a modern solution to address the ever-present challenge of shoplifting. Include these systems into your retailing operations so as to increase security levels, safeguard your stock & make customers and staff safer.
Comments