As concert venues, airports, shopping malls, and other highly-trafficked areas slowly regained capacity in 2021, the physical security industry faced new challenges and some unique crowd control issues. Some of which had devastating results. One example is the Astroworld tragedy that took place in Houston in November of 2021. This event unfortunately served as a sad reminder of how important processes and protocols are to the security industry.
As we look back on 2021, there are lessons to be learned from the successes and challenges in the physical security industry. Some of the most basic lessons can include:
- Guard training is vital for better results in crowd control and safety standards.
- Security teams of all sizes need enhanced technology to help them work smarter.
- Security teams need better ways to anticipate and be proactive, no matter the situation.
5 Lessons from 2021 and How Security Guard Management Software Can Help
Every security team should gain new insight each year and restructure the way they approach the execution of their security services. Read on for five of the biggest takeaways from the events of 2021.
1. Different Locations Require Different Security Measures. Security is never a one-size fits all endeavor. Every aspect, from the location of entrances and exits to maximum capacity to emergency service availability, varies from place to place. While organizing guard tours for a variety of locations can be a daunting task for security managers, enhancing the tools and resources at your disposal has proven to help reduce risk.
Implementing comprehensive security guard management software can help your team plan exactly what is needed for each unique location. By utilizing software with a variety of features and digital tools, your security team can map out each location and identify the most high-risk areas. This allows guards to be where they are needed most no matter the layout.
2. The Right Technology Can Strengthen Short-Staffed Security Teams. Security guard staffing issues and employee burnout are just a few of the impacts on security team size that we saw in 2021. But there are still ways to anticipate risk and provide quality service when you are experiencing staffing shortages. Employing the right security guard management software can help manage risk, expand services, and create proactive processes without missing a beat.
The right software solution can help one security guard function as efficiently as a multi-tasking team of guards. Real-time incident reporting both addresses issues and collects valuable data. Live security dashboards make surveillance and guard tour management a breeze. And communication tools make it easy to interface with customers and staff at a moment’s notice.
3. Utilizing Workforce Management Software Reduces Guard Scheduling Conflicts. As stated above, smaller teams face a unique set of challenges. In addition to guard staffing shortages and burnout, a lack of communication between teams and antiquated guard scheduling are pressing issues in the industry. But security workforce management software helps to ease the burden on security teams.
This security software feature manages guard scheduling and monitors overtime in one dashboard. Plus, workforce management helps managers ensure that all guards have the necessary skill set needed for each guard tour. This is especially important when you are implementing a proactive strategy to execute your security services.
4. Guard Tour Management is Essential to Security Team Success. Guard tour management is a significant challenge for the physical security industry. Issues like adequate staffing or guard scheduling conflicts mean that a security guard can’t always be on a tour. But the right security software changes the guard tour game.
Employing software that utilizes the right features can help to alleviate guard tour challenges and improve processes and procedures. Here are a few examples of how security guard management software does this:
- Digital incident reporting and daily activity reports help security companies design guard tours efficiently, even at the last minute.
- Live security dashboards allow guards to monitor live feeds, address risks, and quickly dispatch assistance.
- Digital checkpoints take scheduling capabilities to a whole new level. Managers can easily make sure they have the right guard at the right checkpoints from any point in the facility. In addition, remote guard check-ins keep guard tours fully staffed at all times.
5. Security Teams Must Prioritize a Proactive Approach. As any security guard can tell you, things can change in an instant. It is crucial to be prepared for any situation. This is where security guard management software comes in.
Live security dashboards provide a comprehensive view of all areas in a facility or venue. This keeps information organized and easy to access, and allows guards to stay ahead of any incidents before they occur.
When coupled with real-time incident reporting, security teams can quickly identify high-risk areas and dispatch guards far more quickly. The right digital reports will also showcase patterns or recurring incidents, helping security companies create proactive plans that are adaptable for any client.
As people continue to live the “new normal”, security challenges are expected and mistakes are inevitable. But taking lessons from those missteps and implementing proactive solutions, like utilizing CSA360’s all-in-one security guard management software, are key to keeping everyone safe.
