What if security is capable of so much more? That’s the question forward thinking businesses across the globe are asking themselves.
Security is known primarily as a set of measures to protect physical spaces. And rightly so. The foundations of our industry are built on letting the right people in and keeping the unauthorized out. There’s an enormous amount for us to be proud of in that regard.
But, what if we began to view security not as an end, but as a beginning? What if security, once its primary functions are confidently managed, could unlock a world of possibilities that extend far beyond the traditional scope?
In this article, we delve into five ways to unlock more value from your business security system, demonstrating how these enhanced capabilities can bring significant benefits to your organization.
What if security saved you money?
Businesses are in the never-ending pursuit of operational efficiency, ironically many try to spend their way out of the problem not realizing the solution many already lie within their security system.
Take St Peter’s a busy boarding school in New Zealand. With over 1000 students and 350 staff, the school requires round the clock heating, lighting, and air conditioning. That comes at a cost. Our business security solution manages the school buildings and facilities to reduce energy consumption, achieving a 30% saving.
In another example, one of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies experienced issues with contractors overcharging. Using our tag tracking solutions, they can now compare contractor’s invoices against tracked time onsite, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It doesn’t end there.
All over the globe, businesses are increasingly relying on security systems to reduce energy bills, meet compliance standards, and leverage data for business intelligence. These systems can adjust lighting, heating, and cooling based on occupancy data, optimizing energy usage and contributing to sustainability efforts. Such capabilities highlight the evolving role of security systems from passive protectors to active contributors to operational efficiency.
What if security achieved compliance?
Compliance with regulatory standards is another area where business security systems are pushing the boundaries of what security can achieve.
Take Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company, who manufactures, markets, and sells specialized dairy ingredients and food products around the world. From using access control solutions to prevent product contamination to integrating leading-edge milk quality testing with their Gallagher security system, we help them ensure only the highest product standards are met.
This not only protects the organization from potential legal issues, but also instills confidence among stakeholders that the business is committed to maintaining high standards of operation. Because quality is key.
What if security brought communities together?
It’s not all about keeping people out. Business security technology can also bring communities together.
The thriving Western Community Centre in Hamilton, New Zealand, provides many essential health, well-being, and educational services for locals of all ages. Overseeing the movement of community groups was a full-time job, so, we replaced keys and pin codes with smartphone access to make it easier for community groups to come and go safely.
A council in Australia is also using our mobile credentials to enable the public to turn their smartphones into access cards to hire out spaces. The funds generated are being reinvested into the community. That’s money well spent.
What if security helped buildings evolve?
Security solutions can even help historic buildings embrace the future while honoring past.
The heritage sector plays a crucial role in preserving our cultural legacy. However, historic buildings can get left behind in terms of technology due to the need to balance modernization with constraints such as cost of upkeep, layout practicalities, and funding issues.
For almost 100 years, the UK’s Rhodes House has been a familiar building in Oxford’s historic landscape. A major restoration and renovation project that incorporated a state-of-the-art access control system has turned this grade II historic building into the city’s newest and most technologically advanced conference and convening centre. As a result, our solution played a part in accelerating the Rhodes Trust’s ability to foster a vibrant and diverse community of scholars and fellows committed to building a better world.
What if security could save time?
Time is one of the most valuable resources, especially in critical settings such as hospitals where every moment counts. Healthcare professionals are constantly under pressure, juggling patient care, administrative duties, and emergency response. The need to streamline operations and reclaim precious time is more urgent than ever.
At a hospital in New Zealand that services almost 400,000 people, people are overstretched. On top of treating patients and dealing with emergencies, they have contractors to manage, reports to write and much more. Our security system takes care of the reports, access control and keeps restricted medicines in the right hands. Ensuring they spend more time with patients, not admin.
What if security is capable of so much more?
It’s clear the security industry is on the cusp of a paradigm shift. As we continue to push the boundaries of what security can achieve, it’s imperative to ask ourselves provocative questions that challenge the status quo. What if security saved you money? What if security brought communities together? And, perhaps most intriguingly, what other transformative changes lie just beyond our current horizon, waiting to be discovered and implemented? These questions drive innovation and when security systems are implemented with a forward-thinking mindset, they can unlock a world of possibilities.