Business Security During the Holidays

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, robbery and personal larceny rise by 20% during the holiday season. This is proof that porch pirates aren’t the only ones who strike during this time of year. Dealers who are in the business of protecting commercial properties need to ensure that their customer’s equipment is up to date, tested and ready to go for the upcoming holidays.

Video Monitoring

Roughly 64% of all small businesses experience some form of theft, whether that is from patrons or employees. But a lot of that can be negated simply by the presence of a video monitoring security system.

Burglary is considered a crime of opportunity because, to employees or customers, it seems like there are absolutely no consequences for stealing, or no way of getting caught. And studies say that this crime is amplified by 20% during the holiday season. Theft can cost small businesses tens of thousands of dollars. Those numbers are drastically reduced by adding a security system to your business.

The presence of a video monitoring system also goes a long in preventing vandalism. According to the U.S Small Business Administration, one act of vandalism costs the receiving business an average of $3,370. That can be a huge toll on a small business.

Testing Systems

It’s clear, the importance of video monitoring for businesses can’t be overstated, but what about those who have existing security systems? The holiday season is the perfect time for security dealers to test systems, and upgrade old systems with the newest technology.

One of the easiest ways for technicians to test systems is with the AG app. The AG app can help technicians easily find businesses thanks to added integration from Google Maps, and even call customers by simply clicking on their number within the app. Of course, the bread and butter of the application is the easy ability to put multiple systems on test quickly. This can help technicians ensure that the businesses they are servicing are ready to go for the holidays.

Reducing False Alarms

It’s fun and festive for businesses to spruce up their stores with fun decorations to get in the spirit of the season, but it can lead to some unexpected consequences. If your technicians are servicing a business, make sure that decorations are not blocking cameras or creating blind spots in the surveillance. Another issue with decorations can be an uptick in false alarms. Moving decor, whether it’s the HVAC system blowing decorative material or mechanical moving decorations, is a major cause in false alarms. And false alarms can lead to unwanted fines. Make sure these moving pieces aren’t going to be an issue for the customer.

Updating Contacts

As you check in with your customers to prepare them for the holiday season, make sure that their contact lists are up to date. In the event of an emergency, you’ll want to ensure that their central monitoring center is able to contact the correct people.

The holidays truly are the most wonderful time of the year, and your customers can truly enjoy this time of year with updated video monitoring systems that keep their business protected and their minds at ease.

All November and December we’ll be bringing you some valuable tips and insights regarding home safety and security as it relates to the holiday season. As we move through the season, each of these articles will be made available through our website’s resource center, along with any important product updates or announcements for you through our dealer portal.