March Networks: Managing Loss Prevention with Artificial Intelligence

By Shelley Swearingen – April 23, 2020

We’ve all seen a heist movie where the robber spray paints a security camera. His partners all rush in undetected to steal the money, jewels, high valued art, or priceless relic. Thanks to March Networks, these techniques are now antiquated.

March Networks offers surveillance systems with cameras equipped with intelligent video. These systems are able to interpret what they see and trigger alarms accordingly. And unlike people, cameras don’t sleep (gone are the days of the snoozing security guard).

ME6 Cameras, the IR DuraBullet & the IR Dome, record footage, evaluate the footage, and sound alarms when necessary. For example, all of these situations would trigger an alarm:

  • an object is abandoned in one space for too long
  • a person or object moves in the wrong direction
  • people loiter in an area for too long
  • a vehicle stays in an area for too long
  • a person or vehicle enters a certain area
  • a camera is tampered with

But what if you’re not worried about the burglar in the black hoodie? For retail establishments, internal theft and shoplifting are bigger concerns. Surveillance cameras and accurate record keeping are the two best factors to prevent and minimize shrinkage.1 The integration of Searchlight software with March Networks surveillance systems make it easier than ever to identify instances of diversion.  Searchlight software allows loss prevention associates to quickly & easily search transactions to match the incident with the footage. This significantly cuts down on man hours spent on reviewing recordings to identify culprit(s). March Networks is even available to manage and maintain this solution with the help of certified partners.

Cannabis entrepreneurs know just how important loss prevention is to a business plan. The product these business grow, cultivate, test, transport, and sell is highly profitable and easily sold on the black market. Furthermore, marijuana businesses are forced to do a large amount of their transactions in cash due to the illegality of the substance federally. For these two reasons, experts suggest investing in quality surveillance measures and storing cash and product in cannabis security vaults.2

The partnership of March Networks and KL Security takes diversion prevention one step further. These security experts have integrated artificially intelligent camera systems and Searchlight monitoring software with cash safes. These smart safes offer bill validating, cash currency counting, cash management, and cash recycling. If your Smart Safe Point of Sale (SSPOS) unit reports a discrepancy, it’s tied to the surveillance system and all guesswork is removed as to when/where/how the incident occurred.

March Networks and KL Security are revolutionizing the way businesses prevent theft. This technology is sure to be seen as the gold standard for loss prevention going forward, known as Total Retail Coverage and Total Harvest Coverage for Cannabis dispensaries and grow operations. To discuss how we can assist your business shrink loss and grow profits, you can reach out to a qualified expert at 866-867-0306 or [email protected].

SearchLight & Retail POS Software Integrations

Features

  • Improve retail security and loss prevention efforts with Point of Sale exception-based reports integrated with intelligent video
  • Oversee operations with video images from all of your business locations
  • Track and analyze customer behavior with people counting, queue length and dwell time analytics
  • Receive alerts about suspicious activity

Total Retail Coverage Security and loss prevention efforts

From shoplifting to internal employee theft as well as organized retail crime, your profits are affected. With Total Retail Coverage, retail business can utilize intelligent video that proactively alerts you to suspicious transactions and other potentially problematic activity in your retail stores. Searchlight’s powerful combination of surveillance video, transaction data and analytics helps you improve retail security and reduce losses. The software’s business intelligence reporting tools also let you gather valuable data on employee behavior and customer interests, information you can use to improve operations, customer service, marketing, and profitability.

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

  1. Alstete, Jeffrey (2006), “Inside advice on educating managers for preventing employee theft”, International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 34 No. 11 pp. 833-844
  2. Helmer, Jodi. November 12, 2019. Cannabis Security: How Growers Can Prevent Internal Theft. Cannabis Business Times. Retrieved from: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/prevent-employee-theft-cannabis-facility-industry/

Businesses Nationwide Installing Sneeze Guards Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Shelley Swearingen — April 6, 2020

Retailers across the country are doing their best to protect workers from contracting the coronavirus. To say the global economy has taken a hit from the coronavirus pandemic would be an understatement. Big box retailers and grocery stores are one of the few industries faring well during this time, but the high demand also brings big concerns.

These businesses are doing their best to protect their workers from falling ill, and it’s no easy task. Many have implemented shortened hours to disinfect stores between business days. Many are installing sneeze guards to add a layer of protection for workers on the ‘front lines’.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that the respiratory virus is most commonly spread by coughing or exhaling. This added barrier is one more way business owners can protect their employees.

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

Employee retention is always difficult for the retail sector, and even more so now. People are hesitant to willingly expose themselves to the possibility of catching the coronavirus. Holding onto these workers requires that management does everything in their power to offer protection to employees.

Many retail giants (Wal-Mart, Costco, Kroger, Albertsons, and Publix1) have already begun installing sneeze guards at all US locations. A Chicago-area Walmart recently lost two employees after succumbing to COVID-19 2. The death of these employees demands more stringent safe guards. 

These protective barriers should be in place for any business requiring face to face interaction of employees and customers, and are not relegated exclusively to grocery stores. Banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations should also enforce the use of sneeze guards.

It could be argued that is an employer’s legal duty to acquire sneeze guards during these times. Through the Code of Federal Regulations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demands:

Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment…” 29 CFR 1910.132

KL Security offers no-installation affordable sneeze guards available for purchase NOW. The plastic barriers are both lightweight and portable and come with a removable base for easy relocation. These sneeze guards are ready to go out of the box for immediate use. To purchase these for your organization click HERE or copy & paste this address into your browser: https://www.klsecurity.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=sneeze

The experts at KL Security are still available to answer any and all questions you may have when it comes to the protection of your facility. We’re experienced in assisting business leaders in all industries to fulfill compliance mandates and ensure overall preservation of best interests. Please reach out today: TOLL FREE 1-866-867-0306 or [email protected]

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

  1. Hanbury, Mary. April 6, 2020. Sneeze guards, social distancing markers, and shopper limits: Here’s what US grocery chains are doing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Business Insider Magazine. Retrieved from: https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-costco-target-adapt-stores-prevent-coronavirus-infection-2020-3#wegmans-8
  2. Duffy, Clare and Meyersohn, Nathaniel. April 5, 2020. Two workers at the same Walmart store die of coronavirus. CNN Business. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/business/walmart-workers-coronavirus-deaths/index.html

Helpful Links:

United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.132

Centers for Disease Control: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

World Health Organization Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Explosives Storage: Classes of Explosives & Types of Magazines…How to determine the best storage magazine for compliance

By Shelley Swearingen — March 31, 2020

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulates and establishes guidelines for the storage of explosive items. These rules must be followed to ensure the absence of unnecessary injury, death, or diversion from criminals.

There are three different classes of explosives:

  • High explosives
    • Detonate by blasting cap when unconfined
    • Examples: blasting caps, detonating cord, dynamite, shaped charges, boosters, flash powder, bulk salutes, etc.
  • Low explosives
    • Deflagrate (burn away with sudden flame & sharp combustion) when confined
    • Examples: black powder, display fireworks, safety fuses, igniters, igniter cords, fuse lighters, etc.
  • Blasting agents
    • Any material or mixture consisting of fuel & oxidizer: intended for blasting & cannot be detonated by No. 8 blasting cap when unconfined
    • Examples: emulsions, water gels & slurries, ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO)

There are five different types of storage magazines for the safe storage of explosives:

  • Type 1:
    • For storage of all classes of explosives
    • Permanent structure
    • Bullet-, fire-, weather-, and theft-resistant
  • Type 2:
    • For storage of all classes of explosives
    • If placed indoors:
      • Fire- and theft-resistant
    • If placed outdoors:
      • Fire-, weather-, theft-, and bullet- and resistant
      • Must be affixed to position, but cannot have direct contact with the ground
      • Ventilated
  • Type 3:
    • For temporary attended storage of all classes of explosives
    • Fire-, weather-, and theft-resistant
    • Portable
  • Type 4:
    • For storage of low explosives, blasting agents, & non-mass detonating detonators
    • Fire-, weather-, and theft-resistant
  • Type 5:
    • For storage of blasting agents
    • Weather- and theft-resistant if stored outside

Inspections & Compliance

Magazines must be inspected every seven days to ensure no one has tried to enter these containers without authorization. Permanent magazines (if kept outside) must have a sufficient foundation or metal skirting to prevent access. A magazine stored indoors may not contain more than 50 pounds of explosives and cannot be stored inside a home or dwelling. To store explosives indoors of a business located near a residence, a request for variance must be submitted to the ATF and approved. The local fire safety authority should be notified of the storage of explosive materials for emergency preparedness. Furthermore, the ATF requires explosives to be stored at varying distances to transportation routes, inhabited buildings, and other explosives.

As always, we recommend a conversation with local authorities in your jurisdiction to ensure specific regulations are met and adhered to. We’re happy to facilitate and participate in conversations to ensure your requirements are met with the best and correct storage magazine.

So, what does it take to be in compliance? The mandates are complicated, and violations can be costly. This is merely a general overview of magazines and explosives storage. For additional guidance or assistance with products, please contact the experts at KL Security by phone: 866-867-0306 or email: [email protected].

Information has been gathered from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

Helpful Links:

https://www.atf.gov/explosives/explosive-storage-requirements

https://regulations.atf.gov/555-201/2019-06266#555-201

https://www.atf.gov/explosives/docs/guide/publication-explosives-magazine-construction-requirements-atf-p-540017/download

https://www.atf.gov/file/61971/download