A recent study, carried out by a reputable security firm, showed that 18% of retail shrinkage came from warehouse theft. To ensure your warehousing business is thriving and build a trusting relationship with your partners, you must invest in modern and future-proof warehouse security.
Top Technologies And Practices To Improve Safety And Security In Your Warehouse
Here’s our list of the top technologies and trends you need to know about to improve safety and security in your warehouse!
Touchless Access Control
Touchless access control should be at the forefront of your warehouse security. Cloud-based, touchless access control offers more convenience for your daily operations. Some options offer an open API to help you build a highly sophisticated, modern, and futureproof security system through integrations.
Touchless access control operates using digital credentials stored on your warehouse employees’ mobile devices. With remote communication features, touchless access control allows your employees to enter the building seamlessly without withdrawing their mobile devices from their pockets.
Your employees must wave their hands in front of the access control reader. This will trigger remote communication with their mobile device via Bluetooth, cellular, and WiFi, and the door will unlock. Traffic will move quickly into your building, and your employees can enter the building quickly when they’ve got their hands full.
Your system administrators and security staff will be able to operate the building’s electromagnetic door locks remotely using a mobile application or control centre connected to the cloud. Since theft is rife in the warehousing industry, you need to know that your facility is always secure. With the cloud-based mobile application, your system administrators can check the status of your door locks to see if any doors are unlocked.
Once you have established access control in your building, you can ensure that only authorized users can enter and use the open API integration potential of cloud-based access control to expand your system.
Visitor Management Software
Visitor management software is an essential integration for access control. You should see which visitors, contractors, and interviewees have entered your building daily. In the event of a security breach, you will have an accurate list of potential suspects in an investigation.
Visitor management software provides you with an accurate picture of your daily visitors by implementing digital surveys. Each visitor must fill out a digital registration form and give their details before entering the building. Once registered, they gain temporary access keys that allow them to move throughout the building. The system automatically logs them out when they leave and withdraws their access credentials.
Video Surveillance
Video surveillance is an essential feature in warehouse security. You should have visibility of your whole building. Speak to a professional surveillance installer for advice on the optimal security camera placement.
Employee theft is, unfortunately, a consideration when it comes to warehouse security, and you need video surveillance throughout your building to discourage your employees from stealing – if they know they are being recorded, they will fear getting caught.
You can use video surveillance at your building’s entrance to verify the identity of users. A video intercom system integrates access control technology and video surveillance for easier identity verification. You will gain built-in high-definition video and touchless access, and both data sets will be visible on one user-friendly interface.
With touchless access control, one of the significant vulnerabilities is the potential for misappropriated access credentials. If an intruder steals access credentials, they can access your warehouse. You can eliminate this vulnerability with identity verification at your building’s entrance.
Cybersecurity Training
A cloud-based security system could become vulnerable if you don’t provide basic cybersecurity training to your employees. Human error is one of the leading causes of cybersecurity breaches, so you need to educate your employees on some of the basic cybersecurity principles and best practices:
- Spotting phishing scams – your employees should be able to easily spot malware, phishing scams, and other attempts to gather personal information. If your employee falls victim to a phishing scam, this could compromise your whole security system.
- Setting strong passwords – your employees should not be using weak passwords or reusing old ones. A shocking amount of people still use passwords like 12345 for essential accounts. So, notify your staff of the importance of creating strong passwords.
- Updates – when you update your software, you are removing any vulnerabilities in older versions. If your employees are using personal devices on your network, you need to instruct them to update all of their software before accessing the network. A weak link could cause a devastating security breach for your business.
Wellness Verification Software
When you manage a warehousing business, you are responsible for putting your workers’ health and safety first. In light of the recent pandemic, companies must ensure that their workers aren’t exposed to the coronavirus at work. If there is an outbreak of the virus in your warehouse, many of your staff will need to rest and might be unable to work, leading to staffing issues. So, you must ensure that sick employees do not come to work.
You can do this using wellness verification software. Employees must fill out digital forms based on their symptoms before entering the building. If they are symptomatic, they will not be able to enter. You recommend that they take a coronavirus test, which will indicate their fitness to work.
Summary
Your warehousing business needs to place security and safety at the forefront. You need to ensure your products are secure and confirm your workforce is healthy and able to work. With these technologies and practices, you can establish an effective warehousing security strategy that will prevent losses for your business and retain the trust of your stakeholders.