Store of the future

In close collaboration with the client’s team, Amberstone Security designed and implemented an enhanced CCTV and security system, providing near to 100% coverage across the client’s new state-of-the-art pilot ‘Store of the Future’.

With over 1,200 stores, over 161,000 employees and serving nearly 25 million customers per week, our client needed to trial a security system that could deliver additional analytic capability, enabled them to make better use of security resources and improve colleague and customer safety. Already piloting an experimental retail format, with a focus on innovative technologies, the client’s ‘Store of the Future’ concept was the ideal environment to develop and trial a cctv and security system that required that same creative approach and practical application. The client chose Milestone VMS as the CCTV system and picked Amberstone to deliver the solution due to their technical ability and ongoing performance.

The solution

Recognising that when resources are limited, connectivity and flexibility are key, one of the first changes Amberstone implemented was to remove the fixed position “podium” at the front of the store, and replace with wireless, hand held devices. This gave every security officer instant access to all 238 CCTV cameras in the system and the ability to see security alerts from a wide range of sources. Here are just some of the benefits this new, fully mobile system provides:

• Full integration to intruder systems – improves response times and enhanced colleague and customer safety.
• Camera based analytics in high-risk areas – alerts officers remotely of incidents involving raised voices.
• Integration to third party tagging systems – ensures immediate alerts to officer handhelds.
• Linking of CCTV system to colleague entry intercom – improves colleague safety and reduces time away from post.
• Installed monitor and camera system across high-risk areas of the store – video content can instantly switch to show the customer as they approach – proven to reduce shrink and creation of a possible new advertising stream (the client’s marketing team are pursuing this possibility).
• Remote access configured to allow remote support by Amberstone Security – allows immediate changes to the system if needed.

The result

The client has seen the benefits of the new Amberstone CCTV and security system, with improved colleague and customer safety, better use of security resource, quicker response to incidents and timesaving via remote entry capabilities. There has been reduced shrink due to more accurate reactions to incidents and the client has also delivered additional analytic retail solutions, via a third party, by utilising the high resolution security cameras that Amberstone ensured would also meet this requirement.