So you’ve done all that initial hard work – you’ve established your business, worked through the tough financial times and really broken through as a successful start-up. You should definitely feel proud of you and your team’s achievements, but that doesn’t mean it’s over yet! It’s vital that you protect your business and all the time, money, blood, sweat and tears that you’ve poured into it.
It goes without saying that business security and safety advice includes CCTV, security staff, specialist site security and loss prevention procedures – so what else can you do to ensure your business is running safely, securely and smoothly as possible? This latest guest post runs through some of the slightly more innovative and imaginative ways to keep your business safe.
1. Implement GPS Tracking Devices – Really.
It might sound like something reserved for Q to unveil to Bond in a pre-mission briefing, but GPS tracking technology is far from reserved as a secret service tool – it can help you to track and accurately protect everything from assets and stock through to vehicles, and even individuals. It all depends on what your business does but if, for example, you run any kind of setup where your staff are mobile and out on the road then GPS tracking devices really can help things run securely and smoothly.
For example, UK-based Back2You provide unique ‘plug and play’ GPS trackers which plug into a vehicle’s OBD with no need to carry out complicated installations and maintenance work. This can let you keep track of staff when they’re out on the road, helping you with performance management, but also provide tracking of vehicles in the event of a theft – helping lead the police quickly to your assets. The same can be said for physical stock – items can be stored on site in tagged containers to both act as a deterrent and as a retention technique.
2. Couple Traditional Security With Cutting-Edge Tech
Now, we’ve already mentioned how standard security systems like security staff, CCTV, specialist locks and gates are basically a given when it comes to securing your business premises and any assets – so it’s time to reinforce this by thinking outside the box with some totally unique and cutting edge technology. High tech is where it’s at, and the advent of automation technology in both businesses and homes gives better control and overall more accurate security.
Kickstarter is a great place to keep yourself ahead of the curve and on the ball with any emerging products and technologies, and it’s been a fantastic breeding ground for security products that would work fantastically with businesses. For example, Novi Security (which you can see the video of above), combines smart device technology with existing security.
It fits perfectly in a business environment, such as an office or retail unit, giving live snapshots any time the motion sensor is trigger – letting you take an appropriate response immediately and minimising false alarms. There are dozens of other similarly successful projects just waiting to be unleashed on the market which can revolutionise your new business’s security setup.
3. Have Your Staff (Appropriately) Trained In Self-Defence
Moving away from the high-tech and smart device powered methods and more into a physical response; if you think your staff work in environments where they may be at a physical risk at any one time then having them properly trained in (at the very least) the basics of self-defence is not an altogether bad idea – though not necessarily one which many employers currently champion.
According to CommunityCare, almost two-thirds of social care staff want self-defence training – something which some professionals believe can help reduce any potential physical attacks or incidents by giving staff the tools they need to diffuse any situations.
We’re not talking about having black-belt retail staff patrolling the shop floor ready to pounce on anyone who makes a complaint, but your staff knowing how to protect themselves and also training them in how to utilise non-physical de-escalation techniques can help to reduce hostile instances in the workplace. Far from encouraging a ‘have a go’ attitude, it could potentially give your staff the tools they need to minimise any dangerous incidents.
This guest post was written by online blogger Tom McShane in association with GPS tracking device suppliers Back2You, who supply a range of vehicle, fleet and personal tracking devices for businesses.
