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In 2020, over 3.9 million dollars worth of consumable goods were stolen in cargo theft incidents. When operating a warehouse, protecting the cargo from theft is one of the top priorities to keep your business afloat and profitable.
So, what actions can you take to improve warehouse security and protect your cargo? Read on as this guide gives 7 actions you can take to improve warehouse security and prevent unnecessary losses in your business.
Photo by Adrian Sulyok on Unsplash
7 Ways You Can Improve Warehouse Security
Warehouse security is necessary to protect stored goods from theft caused by both employees and external sources. Employee theft makes up a significant portion of warehouse theft incidents, and these tips will help you protect your business from internal and external threats.
If you’re an eCommerce seller, you will need to research which warehouses to choose for storing your products for security and convenience of location.
Security Cameras
Security cameras are one of the most imperative security installations you can make when planning your security strategy. Not only will your security cameras provide video feed, but they will also deter criminals who will see that they are being filmed and desist from attempting to commit a crime.
If a security breach occurs, then your security footage will provide the police with additional evidence that will help them close your case. Fitting security cameras inside and outside your building will help reduce crime caused by both external sources and employees.
Access Control
Access control is the cornerstone of building security, allowing you to limit access to your warehouse and restrict unauthorized users from gaining entry.
Access control will also allow you to view access logs with employee information to know who is accessing your warehouse at any given time. A cloud-based access control system will allow you to view access logs for your convenience remotely.
You can implement access control without inconveniencing your employees, as depending on the frequency of your readers, your staff and authorized warehouse users will not have to reach into their pocket to gain access.
Their mobile phones will store a touchless key, which allows them to unlock doors via Bluetooth depending on the frequency of your reader.
Access control can easily be integrated with your security camera technology to house all of the information on one interface, making it easier to collate data. This is a more user-friendly system that will help your security team resolve issues more efficiently.
Door Gates
Your warehouse doors can be a vulnerable entry point, and you should consider installing additional security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Also, if your warehouse is in a warm climate, your employees may wish to keep doors open to improve airflow during working hours.
By installing a fixed scissor gate, you can prevent unauthorized entry while your warehouse doors are open and improve airflow into the building for your employee’s wellbeing.
The eco-friendly fixed accordion gate offers all of the benefits associated with scissor gates. It also has a much lower carbon footprint than the alternatives to help you decrease the environmental impact of your business operations.
Glass Break Detection
Glass is a necessary feature in warehouses to let light in without using electricity and artificial lights. However, glass can cause your warehouse to have weak spots in terms of security, and your security plan must consider this.
You can receive alerts on your mobile device when glass in your warehouse breaks by installing glass break detection. This can trigger you to check security cameras and call the police if necessary, allowing for a swift reaction to security breaches.
Emergency Response Plans
Every warehouse must be equipped with a good list of emergency response plans and must train employees to make them aware of:
- Emergency exits in the building
- Assembly points
- Who is responsible for notifying emergency services
These points make up the bare minimum of any sound emergency response plan, which you must include in your warehouse security strategy.
Motion Detection
Motion detection and alarm systems allow you to be notified if someone has gained access to your warehouse during closing hours without permission. You can receive a mobile notification that will allow you to investigate the incident quickly on your security cameras and call the police if need be.
Avoid Manual Data Entry Practices
Manual data entry is time-consuming and can cause inventory errors, making theft incidents more challenging to spot.
By using RFID readers or barcode scanners, your employees will be able to register your cargo and accumulate data more quickly and more accurately. This will significantly reduce any errors caused by manual data entry and give you more accurate logs of your cargo, making security concerns easier to spot.
Summary
The cargo stored in warehouses can be attractive to criminals looking to steal from your business, and it is your responsibility to prevent the occurrence of theft and other crimes in your warehouse. Implementing these actions can improve warehouse security and decrease crimes caused by both employees and external sources.