Every Camera Has a Job, Not Just Your Employees

We all know how important it is to realize value from our assets and a video surveillance system is no exception. Just like we expect our employees to arrive at work and perform their assigned duties, we expect the same from surveillance cameras. They should not simply exist as a reactive tool but rather as a proactive one. Easily stated, our cameras have a job to do and they are expected to do them well. As the need for video surveillance increases with the growth in virtual management, it’s important that we get the best possible return from cameras. One of the great advantages about cameras is that they can multitask better than any employee! Cameras can monitor more than one area at a time.

Realizing Value From Cameras

Every discerning business owner knows the importance of ROI. They pay their employees for doing their jobs just like they pay to have their cameras installed, maintained, and put to good use. A business owner may make adjustments to an employee’s behavior; in the same way, making adjustments to a camera should be common place as well. For example, in the retail world, placing a camera to cover side aisles may not be an obvious choice but consider being able to monitor guest behavior to review false customer claims such as a slip and fall or an altercation between a guest and staff member.

We trust the employee to put up a wet floor sign after mopping and we trust the camera to ensure that the sign was seen by the customer who has submitted a false claim after a slip and fall. In this case, both the employee and camera help with liability.

360iQ Usage

The 360iQ dashboard and DTiQ’s business consultation services can help you manage your cameras in an effective manner. With DTiQ’s guidance, an owner/operator can expect that their cameras will provide accurate and essential data every minute of every day. DTiQ’s suite of managed services also help realize value. At the drive thru, it is the employee’s responsibility to greet the customer promptly, take their order, repeat it back for accuracy as well as take the opportunity to upsell. At the same time, the drive thru camera can provide information about employee/guest interaction and measure speed of service (SOS). 360iQ provides SOS and trending charts based on location, day and time.

Camera Placement

A walk-in cooler holds valuable product that needs to be kept safe and at the right temperature, this is why a camera placed both facing the cooler door and on the inside is very useful to ensure that the door is only opened when product is being moved. The camera can also help identify activity in this area in the event of an emergency or other incident. Similarly, employees are expected to keep the door shut and compressor fan running to help protect product. They are also supposed to maintain professionalism while in the cooler. The camera works in conjunction with the employee to help maintain that the cooler is in great working order. Placing a camera at the back door will keep watch of your vendors and employees as they move in and out of the building. While an employee might be helping a customer or working the register it can be difficult to watch the back door at the same time. Letting a camera do this will make the employee more efficient and keep track of any assets that may be exiting the store.

One of the most valuable positions for a camera is over POS systems. Operators trust employees to accurately ring up transactions at the POS and practice proper cash handling; placing a camera over the POS systems will help ensure that this is being done and give operators the chance to make adjustments when it’s not. These are just a few examples of the various roles a camera can play. Remember that cameras and employees are similar – each one has an important job! Make sure that both your cameras and employees have defined tasks so you are achieving a return on your investment.

Let’s get those cameras working for you!