industry focus
A swift exit for post-pandemic security checking
Global security screening expert business Thruvision provides a strong example of an existing technology that has successfully evolved with the pandemic. Indeed, it could be described as a solution that has perfectly adapted to the challenges created by the new normal.
Theft from distribution centres (DCs) was a pre-existing and growing problem in 2019. Most retailers and their third-party warehouse partners operated randomised security checks using body scanning wands as staff finished their shifts, but the pandemic and the requirement to socially distance ended this practice overnight for fear of further spreading the virus amongst an essential workforce.
Oxford-based Thruvision was already creating interest with its ‘walk through’ camera technology that identifies and pinpoints concealed items on an employee from three metres away without the need for physical and intrusive searching. However, the solution came into its own from March 2020, triggering demand from existing customers and a new constituency of retailers and supply chain companies struggling to reconcile and manage the new wave of online demand with the growing theft issues from opportunistic and organised operatives.
As a result, the business, which secured the ‘Most Innovative Risk Management Cross Functional or Supply Chain Solution’ at the Fraud Awards in 2021 for its work with CEVA Logistics has taken its offering to a new level in line with increased demand for greater loss reductions and business efficiency.
To this end, the business, that works with a wide range of high street businesses, is introducing an augmented system that speeds up the employee exit search process. The dynamic detection technology Thruvision is now rolling out post-pandemic can accelerate the process with up to 30 employees a minute – 4000 per hour – being checked.
In trials it has already delivered dividends as it also advises guards as to where to look to identify concealed items – ‘as small as a packet of Tic Tacs’ - at a distance as staff pass through the camera view finder. One trial has already prevented millions of pounds worth of selected items going missing over the course of a year.
Alex Brundle, vice president for sales and marketing at Thruvision, said: “A high percentage of retailers do not realise the extent of their losses at a DC which is why we are happy to run controlled trials with existing and prospective customers.
“It is therefore not surprising that distribution businesses are looking to invest because of the growth in online trade. Many of these sites have not had any security investment for many years, but that is now changing and revealing some eye-watering loss figures.
“In what we’ve seen already, there are some strong indicators of success. In one instance a person was stopped and a later search of his vehicle revealed £10,000 worth of other stolen stock.
“We are also seeing evidence of changing behaviour from employees once they know the system is in place, including drop off of products or abandonment of items and evidence of empty packaging before they approach the exits.
“We have seen people testing the technology by concealing innocent items, but we have also been successful in identifying weapons, drugs and alcohol.
Much of the focus has been directed at deterrence in order to change behaviour and retain employees, a form of watching ‘shed staff to avoid shedding staff’ approach.
“There is a lot of churn in the industry and businesses are looking at ways of searching staff without the intrusion – this facilitates deterrence and staff retention,” added Alex.
