All retailers have one thing in mind when tackling shrink management – how to detect and prevent theft whilst simultaneously creating an environment that encourages customers to shop freely and easily.
New technologies such as Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) have helped reduce shrinkage, especially in terms of customer theft which in 2007 accounted for 48.5 per cent of all European retail shrinkage.
Highly advanced EAS systems improve detection rates and give retail store employees greater confidence in their security systems’ accuracy and responsiveness.
Subsequently, retail staff can work more efficiently and focus on what matters most – helping customers.
For EAS systems to be implemented successfully, retailers must ensure they select a reliable solution that is both compatible with other shrink management technology and which works to a high level.
If the system is not managed and monitored properly, in-store security will not be at its most effective.
Checkpoint Systems has addressed this with the introduction of Evolve, a new state-of-the-art shrink management platform that paves the way for the future of retail security. Featuring the most up-to-date technology, including 360 radio frequency (RF) and Smart Alarm Management (SAM), the new platform represents a giant leap in EAS system performance and reliability.
360 RF technology, which was initially developed for military radar use, means that loss prevention systems can more reliably detect a security tag, even if it is not in the antennae detection beam’s direct line of sight.
Furthermore, Evolve’s 360 RF technology allows retailers to increase their store’s aisle widths by up to 2.1 metres, meaning less antennae on the shop floor, a better aesthetic environment and most importantly, a happier customer.
SAM is a revolutionary way of monitoring customers more efficiently, enabling staff to react to situations in a suitable manner. Evolve employs SAM as an intelligent alarm analysis tool which is able to distinguish between an innocent customer with tagged merchandise walking into a store from elsewhere, and a customer walking guiltily out of a store with protected product.
Neil Matthews, Vice President of Checkpoint Systems, North, Central & Eastern Europe, commented: “Evolve attacks shrink more aggressively, whilst also offering technological advancements that result in fewer false alarms and, therefore, less hassle for consumers.
“Checkpoint’s new platform allows data to be collected and incorporated into analytical tools to provide greater feedback to retailers on store traffic and theft patterns.
“All in all, Evolve allows retailers to take intelligent counter-measures to protect merchandise, improve store aesthetics, reduce overheads and make for a more enjoyable customer shopping experience.”
When weighed up, these improvements result in an EAS system with enhanced integrity. Store employees can respond to alarms with the utmost confidence, while management will be able to track alarm responses to ensure they are dealt with efficiently.
