How retail’s loss prevention is benefiting from two-way radio systems
Effective and instant communication within loss prevention teams is one of the most crucial necessities. That’s why two way radios are the perfect tool for retail industry communication.
Two way radios can effectively connect warehouses, offices and staff members with security, operations, facilities management, CCTV rooms and even Police.
With increased choice on the high street, and the pressures of online shopping, retailers need to make sure when a customer chooses their store, they are looked after and directed appropriately, store employees are responsible for making sure shoppers have a better retail experience and using two way radio reduces customer waiting time, especially when checking for stock and getting more co-workers to till points to reduce queue times.
In cases of shoplifting, antisocial behaviour or even a robbery, two way radios can alarm the security. This option offers our clients confidence about safety and security in their stores. In addition, effective use of two way radio systems makes it easy to track the suspect in real time.
In fact, our clients are certain that two way radios help them to control stock loss more effectively.
Smaller shops use radios mainly for internal communication, whereas larger stores which are over a few floors can connect the radios to their control rooms etc. Similarly, the whole shopping centre can be connected and different shops can communicate together to share potential threats or warnings. These can also be linked with the local police which helps to fight crime and anti-social behaviour within cities.
At Apex, we are one of the leading providers of Shopwatch schemes in the UK and Ireland, with over 25 years of experience of working with retail loss prevention managers. Currently, many of our schemes are going through ‘switchover’ from analogue to digital radios as we prefer our clients have the latest technology on the market and that their communication is as vital and effective as it should be.
So what’s sort of radios does your shop need?
If your shop is a smaller size and you need it mainly for internal communication you may find PMR446 licence free radios (licence-free radios) fit your needs.
One of our biggest clients, New Look, use licence free radios mainly for their internal communication and they find them really sufficient in many of their stores
One of the best products for retailers in our opinion is Motorola CLP446 – licence free radio, extremely lightweight and small which is perfect for a shop’s internal communication.
Another radio would be the Icom F29SR as they are also reasonably small and reasonably priced. If you wish to look at Digital Radios, Hytera have a PMR446 Licence free radio PD365LT which is small, compact and has a few extra features such as predetermined texts and private call.
If your retail shop is of a larger size such as the John Lewis shops you might need licensed radios.
When it comes to larger retailers the type of two way radio will depend on the type of the communication and the staff who will use the radios. For instance, you might be using your radios to connect security, parking services and facilities and that’s when we would be looking for higher end radios which will be more robust, more powerful and most likely digital.
For this communication, we recommend you go for Motorola DP4000series or Vertex Standard EVX.
If you need the radios for your in-store security staff on the shop floor, that are extremely discreet you could have a look at Motorola SL4000as this is really small and discreet offering digital functions, in a compact size, ideal for undercover operatives. For floor staff, the Hytera PD365 offers a small lightweight radio at a fabulous price
Shopwatch links
When it comes to linking the whole shopping centre or town centre shops together it might get a little bit more complicated.
In this case Apex will meet with the town centre management, shopping centre representatives and local police and authorities to agree on the plan and requirements.
Afterwards, it is necessary to arrange the site survey and decide on the best equipment, and if the repeaters will be needed. This is to ensure that the whole area is covered with the radio signal and all users can communicate seamlessly with each other.
In terms of the radio equipment used for Shopwatch schemes this really depends on the particular scheme and members’ requirements. Apex usually determines which radio is the most suitable. Members of Shopwatch schemes are then renting their radio equipment directly from Apex for a small monthly fee.
An example of one of the most common radios supplied to Shopwatch schemes by Apex could be Hytera PD705.
If you are a loss prevention manager or person responsible for seamless communication within the retail industry, don’t hesitate and give us a call just for a chat to see how we can make your life easier…