By Jeffrey A. Slotnick, CPP, PSP
We are living in an age of digital transformation. Not only is our technology getting smarter, but it’s making us smarter too. The digital transformation is affecting every aspect of our lives, both professional and personal. We are automatically notified of news, appointments, messages, and events we should be aware of. We have more information available to make decisions on how to respond. And, in many cases, we have digital tools in the form of mobile apps readily available to help us take action.
The mobile patrol guard industry should be taking full advantage of this trend. As security industry consultants, we often find ourselves evaluating our clients’ guard force programs to identify cost savings opportunities and create efficiencies. Transforming their patrolling model, through the help of digital technology, is certainly a solution to consider.
While modern-day patrol officers have replaced yesterday’s night watchmen, too little has changed in how criminals exploit lapses in security coverage. In the past, a lone watchman would walk his pre-defined and predictable route, and criminals would time their activity for shortly after he had passed, giving themselves the maximum amount of time to work unobserved. Today, patrol services schedule visits to multiple sites throughout their shifts, in a rotating cycle, and savvy criminals engage in pre-operational surveillance, assessing the patrols’ frequency and the best time to stage their activities. The reality is that you can’t be everywhere at once, and that holds true whether you’re the night watchman of yesteryear or part of a robust, modern patrol service organization. Even with frequent patrols, stopping criminal activity remains a hit-or-miss proposition.
Patrol services are financially motivated to be efficient. Currently, efficiency from the vendor’s perspective results in over-committing a patrol, spending the minimum amount of time at each client’s site. By contrast, the end-user’s view of efficiency demands a proactive patrol force that successfully deters criminals.
Enter the digital transformation. A new-to-market product empowers patrol services to optimize their efficiency in the number of clients served and the results they deliver. The device is called ROSA (Responsive Observation Security Agent), from Robotic Assistance Devices. While ROSA can’t let patrolling officers be everywhere simultaneously, it does allow them to see everywhere simultaneously, or rather, see what they need to see. That makes it a game-changer!
ROSA is a self-contained, artificial intelligence-driven security and communication solution capable of human and vehicle detection, including license plate recognition. With its dual 5MP PTZ cameras providing up to a 180° field of view, ROSA is easily installed on a post or directly on a wall. Implementation is quick and uncomplicated. ROSA does not require any labor-intensive network installation; it communicates with the cloud via an enhanced cellular connection. All data and video collected by ROSA are stored securely on the cloud, and RAD’s visual control system, RADSOC, provides real-time alerts to security personnel responsible for monitoring, either locally or remotely.
ROSA is always on and monitoring. Here is where digital transformation comes into play. RAD’s integrated A.I. makes ROSA smarter than a standard camera, recognizing activities such as pre-operational surveillance and loitering. And ROSA shares that intelligence with guard services, alerting them immediately via a mobile application when suspicious activity requires their attention. Officers can view live video feed, playback the alert event, and arrive on-site quickly, backed with sufficient resources.
Limiting on-site patrol responses to where they’re needed, when they’re needed, sets off a chain of events that benefit both guard services and their customers. With ROSA’s help, the guard service companies achieve greater success in impacting local crime. This leads to better relations with local law enforcement. Their enhanced reputation within the community drives more business opportunities. Plus, operational efficiencies made possible by ROSA allow patrol services to develop improved pricing models that significantly increase profitability. Expenses associated with implementation are minimal and can be passed through to the customer.
Digital Transformation for the guard industry is here, and it is named ROSA.
Jeffrey A. Slotnick, CPP, PSP, is a security and risk management consultant engaged in facilitating Enterprise success through efficiency and innovation.
Jeffrey A. Slotnick, CPP, PSP, President Setracon, ESRMS
Jeff.Slotnick@Setracon.com
www.setracon.com
253-426-3349