Video surveillance has become a more common element in our daily lives. We can see security cameras at stoplights, in public buildings, parking lots, and increasingly in office buildings and small businesses. The ways in which surveillance protects business owners are numerous, ranging from safety to profits. How can a well-installed and managed surveillance system help your business?

Boost Profits

Business owners may be surprised to find that the installation of surveillance cameras can increase their profits. Ryan Elmore, a restaurant owner in Erie, Colorado, implemented many changes due to what he noticed after installing security cameras. He saw that his manager was frequently ditching his duties, employees giving away free meals to their friends, chefs improperly making the dishes, and the common occurrence of overstaffing. After implementing changes in his business, he was able to cut costs by 5% and enjoyed growth in yearly profits of around $60,000.

Surveillance cameras allow business owners to keep an eye on their employees’ productivity, leaving them more time to venture out and build their client base. The Hawthorne Effect is undoubtedly in play here. People are more productive when they know they’re being observed.

Your customers are likely to appreciate the presence of surveillance in your business as well. When a company has security, the customer knows that their safety is valued and that the business cares about the impression they are making. Observing customers can also grant businesses the ability to take advantage of what they learn. Watching the areas that customers most frequently traffic can help business owners redesign their retail shop flow to improve their sales.

Lawsuits

No business owner wants to learn that an employee or customer is suing them. Surveillance can help business owners avoid lawsuits or deal with them more easily when they occur. CNBC reported 1 in 5 Americans had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, according to a survey published in 2017. Employers paid out over 65 million in 2019 for sexual harassment violations, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2019. Over 20,000 workers in the private industry were injured or traumatized by workplace violence in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Use of surveillance can discourage these things from ever happening. If they do occur, then having video evidence can help your company be informed on dealing with the problem.

Reduce loss

Retail “shrink” cost American businesses over 60 billion dollars in 2019, a 10 billion dollar increase from the year prior, according to the National Retail Security Service. These profit losses are due to common workplace problems like theft, fraud, and vandalism. Monitoring employees and customers allow business owners the opportunity to notice trends and prevent some of the losses.

While business owners may be tempted to purchase an “out of the box” security camera, they’re usually designed for residential properties and lack the resolution needed to meet your needs. At CrafTech, we will work with you to assess your security needs and create the right system to suit your business. CrafTech Computer Solutions has your back and will do whatever it takes to keep your business running smoothly.