Recent research has found retailers are looking at physical security data to support areas including operational efficiency, compliance, safety and the experience of employees and customers.
More than 60% identified operational efficiency as a key objective for their security data, while 55% cited compliance and 48% customer and employee experience.
The findings point to a change in how security systems are being viewed. CCTV, access control, intruder detection and other technologies generate information about what is happening across a building every day, but much of this information has traditionally only been reviewed when something goes wrong.
Bringing systems together and making information easier to access provides security and facilities teams a clearer view of activity across a site. Access events can help identify unusual patterns, alarm information can highlight areas requiring attention, while video can provide additional context when an incident occurs.
Making better use of existing infrastructure
Ageing infrastructure remains a challenge, with 40% of retailers in the research identifying it as an operational issue. 54% said they planned to make greater use of existing technology to address new challenges.
For organisations with established infrastructure, modernisation can involve upgrading individual elements, integrating systems or improving how information is managed rather than starting again.
This can be important across larger estates, where replacing multiple systems at the same time can be disruptive, costly and difficult to justify. Understanding what is already installed, how well it is performing and where it can be integrated with newer technology can provide a clearer route forward.
It also means security upgrades can be considered around the needs of the building rather than as a straightforward technology replacement. Different sites may have different requirements, infrastructure and constraints, so there is rarely a single approach that will suit an entire estate.
Security data has a wider role
As information becomes easier to access, its use can extend beyond the security team. Facilities teams may benefit from greater visibility of access and activity, while operational teams can draw on security information when investigating incidents or understanding what has happened within a building.
Access records, alarm events and other system information can provide an auditable record of activity, although organisations need to consider carefully how this information is collected, accessed and retained.
The wider use of security data should not mean collecting information for its own sake. There needs to be a clear reason for using it and appropriate controls around who can access it and how it is handled.
Where AI fits
AI and analytics are likely to accelerate this shift with the research finding 51% of retailers intend to use AI to streamline security processes.
There are clear opportunities, particularly where large volumes of information need to be monitored or where identifying patterns manually would be difficult. However, the technology needs to be applied to a defined requirement. Introducing AI simply because it is available does not necessarily improve a security operation.
The starting point should be an understanding of the building, its existing systems and the way security is currently managed. From there, organisations can identify where better integration, additional capability or a different approach to existing infrastructure could make a meaningful difference.
For Amthal, this is increasingly part of the conversation with organisations reviewing their security provision. The focus is on understanding what is already in place, where it can be developed and where new technology can support changing requirements without automatically requiring a complete replacement.