The increased accessibility of cameras has helped people capture more precious moments and share them with the world. They’ve also helped keep people honest and make securing your home and business more convenient and affordable. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) security systems trace back to the 1980s but were grainy, glitchy, and prohibitively expensive. Now, a quality CCTV system can be set up for a few hundred dollars and conveniently monitored from nearly any smart device you own…well, maybe not the smart toasters, but you get the idea.
CCTV systems can help protect your business by constantly monitoring and alerting you to real-time disturbances. They also serve the dual purpose of helping optimize operations at your company. Those are the two theses of this article–to show you the benefits of a CCTV-secured business and how it can help yours be more efficient. Lights, cameras, action–read on for more!
The Obvious–Enhance Security Equals Less Crime
We mentioned before that the abundance and portability of cameras these days keep everyone honest. We’re not talking about those “planted” moments or filming your neighborhood Karen; we’re talking about how security cameras on campus having can decrease the number of crimes by 50%. This makes sense–cameras around your home or business, even if hidden, are invaluable evidence to help resolve security incidents and crime investigations.
Many security systems can connect remotely to your devices via a corresponding app. The owner can view the live footage in real-time, store it in the cloud for later, and depend on the setup, even use flashlights or speak through speakers (think of the Ring doorbell). Security systems are beneficial for multi-location businesses or businesses with multiple separate areas that would be impractical to patrol with human security guards.
Having footage stored automatically in the cloud makes it especially easy to save and turn over tapes to law enforcement. Many security setups will also automatically begin saving footage or alert the owner through their devices if specific triggers are tripped (motion, light, sound, etc.). Specific security and technology companies may offer additional remote monitoring services, where trained security personnel will monitor the video feed and alert you of any happenings.
Modern security cameras are also smaller than ever–they can easily be hidden in the exterior of buildings or the landscape. Many are wireless and battery-powered, so you don’t need to snake electrical cables all over to set them up. Securing your business place is a snap with CCTVs, and like we said, even the mere sight is enough to deter would-be crime.
The Not-So-Obvious–Employee and Customer Safety
Security cameras can protect your business from outside threats—vandalism, theft, arson, and so on–but another less obvious benefit of installing CCTV cameras is protecting your business’s customers and employees. We’ll discuss that here.
You can also install CCTV systems inside your workspace as a great way to monitor high-traffic areas, like entry and exit ways or customer transaction stations. CCTV systems ensure a safer environment for your customers and employees, making both feel safer in your shopping or service environment. They are also invaluable for preventing theft or harassment or helping identify and prosecute in case that happens. For example, if there’s a discrepancy in the amount of money in a till or an incorrect number in the inventory logs, reviewing the camera footage can help sort of a genuine mistake or a dishonest employee.
Security cameras are also helpful in protecting against workplace accidents, which can, unfortunately, be a very real risk, especially in manufacturing and warehouse centers. In the unfortunate event of an injury or accident, cameras can alert the manager or owner of an incident and help expedite emergency responders; some particularly savvy systems can directly alert the local police or fire department. In addition to real-time alerts and rapid emergency response, cameras help ensure compliance with health and safety protocols.
Operational Efficiency and Productivity
We mentioned that cameras can help monitor employees in the workplace for accidents or injuries. They can also provide helpful information on employee performance. Video can help identify bottlenecks in workflow efficiency since the cameras can also track how long an employee takes to complete a task. It can also analyze an employee’s real-time productivity, conduct, behavior, and customer interactions.
Video analysis has become increasingly sophisticated, and in addition to your eyes, it helps identify inefficient tasks, which can become opportunities for improvement and better task allocation. AI-powered data analysis can gather data and create complex numbers to guide decisions.
Besides your customers, CCTV camera systems inside the store can help improve efficiency in the space itself. You might replay to the footage and see lower-traffic areas where customers aren’t flocking, costing yourself sales opportunities. This allows you to change the floor space and see if you can re-route the customer traffic. You’ll have plenty of data to go off with a security camera setup, so much that the money you’ll save or make back in business operations could quickly pay for the setup!
Compliance and Legal Protection
The legal protections from security systems are worth discussing, as it’s one of the main reasons people purchase them for their businesses. A picture value a thousand words (videos are worth a million, in our opinion), and offer objective evidence in the case of legal claims–if a customer, client, or employee sues for damages, such as a workplace accident or damaged goods/inadequate service. They also offer evidence for meeting industry and workspace-specific regulations and inspections.
Lastly, branches of some businesses may be required to meet a security threshold. Think of banks, financial institutions, electronics stores like Best Buy and Apple, pharmacies, government buildings, data centers, and liquor stores. Again, security cameras keep everyone honest and dissuade would-be perpetrators from committing a crime, and foster a sense of accountability, transparency, and safety in the workplace.
Future Trends in CCTV Security Systems
Security cameras have come a long way since the clunky boxes of the 1990s and their grainy, black-and-white images. Now, CCTV systems are more affordable and smaller than ever. We predict that the costs of CCTV systems will only decrease as cameras become cheaper and easier to produce. The quality of the footage will also increase to a point (let’s be honest; 4K quality is excellent for your TV or drone footage, but do you need that for your building’s parking lot camera?)
AI has undoubtedly had its heyday ever since ChatGPT burst into the scene. Now, every company is trying to integrate it into its services and work, and that’s good. AI solutions will continue to be refined and improved, and new implementations will be discovered. We expect AI “sentinels” to monitor the camera feed instead of needing human guards to watch them and watch out for unusual activity. They can then push automated updates or notify a person of something remarkable. We also expect AI and CCTV systems will get better at connecting directly to the police, fire, and EMS departments.
We also think that security systems will also become “smart.” That is, to become better at integrating with smart devices on the campus. For example, if a security camera detects flames on the live camera footage, it might automatically trigger the fire alarms, lock fire doors, and call the fire department. It might verify that the flames in the footage are real by tapping into data provided by smart thermostats or ambient light sensors in the area. Or, in the event of a crime like robbery, the video footage collected by the camera can be automatically sent to the police department via the cloud and used to track the individual.
How Do I Choose the Right CCTV System for My Business?
If you’re reading this article and have reached this point, you’re probably in the market for a security system for your business. First, thank you for reading! Second, the goals and purposes of having a CCTV system should be considered.
Here are some questions to ponder during your security hunt:
- Has there been an uptick in accidents in the workspace or crimes in the area?
- What smart devices and things do you have in the workplace?
- What’s your budget?
- What industry or type of business are you covering?
- How many spaces do you need under surveillance?
- Will the camera feeds be continually monitored by a human?
- How sharp of a picture quality do you need?
Above mentioned questions can help in on your selection, which is especially helpful these days because the competition has made you spoiled for choice. That’s why it’s essential to research the brand and company you’re considering, as there are plenty of cheaper knockoffs that might not have the longevity of some of their rivals.
There are all sorts of cameras–HD, thermal, night/infrared–so having an idea of where they’ll be watching and the lighting conditions will be advantageous. Knowing any regulations or criteria for your security system is also essential. If possible, find a professional installation company; they’ll offer free consultations and give you the best, customized advice for securing your business. The installation will also be worth the additional fee; besides saving you precious time, the company will help you get the cameras up and chat with your smart devices, so it’ll be ready to go that same day.
Alright, Let’s Recap Real Quick
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article! Thank you for reading, and we hope it’s helped you with your CCTV journey. Cameras are becoming increasingly popular and accessible for securing businesses and homes, as you’ve undoubtedly seen in the media. They’re worth their weight in gold when it comes to thwarting crime and employee theft, and even just the sight of them is enough to dissuade potential crooks. Security systems are also just as handy at protecting your employees and workplace by monitoring for accidents and helping them to maintain safety.
The usefulness of cameras goes beyond what’s in the footage. They also provide data on your business: time to complete tasks, employee productivity, employee conduct and behavior, floor traffic, and, with the advent of AI analysis, so much more. We only expect CCTV systems and security cameras to offer so much more (at increasingly better prices) as technology continues to develop smart systems that are surveyed by AI, devices that can synchronize with your Internet of Things tech, and more!
Make sure to keep in mind why you’re buying a CCTV system and where it will be covered. Seek out a company willing to work with you to find the best equipment for your job (often, companies can work on custom solutions for business owners like yourself) and do your research!
We wish you luck in your CCTV hunt and hope you find the right fit to make your business secure, responsible, and innovative!
