Warehouse facilities often depend on video security to help maintain a safe working environment, keep an eye on inbound and outbound inventory and staff, monitor processes, and enhance access control. But have you considered how your security systems could help improve operations as well?
There are several ways that the data and insights from video can help you streamline warehouse operations and identify efficiency opportunities. Here are a few examples that we’ve seen.
Monitoring the product cycle from beginning to end creates accountability
Inventory is typically the second largest cost factor within a company. Creating a visual audit trail to ensure it is being handled properly and efficiently is a major contributor to your bottom line. The use of Public View Monitors (PVMs) in public areas reminds employees and will call customers that all processes are being tracked. While this can feel like “big brother” is watching, using the visual audit to record employees performing the right behaviors and then recognizing and rewarding that behavior, can positively impact the adoption and acceptance rate.
To see this concept in action, this case study is a good example of video surveillance improving efficiencies within a global distribution company.
Monitoring the product cycle from beginning to end creates efficiency
The processes involved in receiving, storing and reshipping your products are usually tracked with your inventory management system. Integrating video into the data that is already being utilized gives you a visual audit trail as the product cycles through your facility. When KPIs vary from one shift to the next or one plant to another, you can review the video to ensure standard operating procedures are being followed and look for best practices that can be incorporated into your employee training.
Monitoring exceptions in existing data and integrating it with video provides focus
In our company, we have adopted the philosophy of “Focus on the Right Things Equals Growth.” The obvious challenge in our busy work days is to find the “Right Things” to focus on. Your existing data along with business intelligence software integrated with your video surveillance system can look for exceptions or anomalies in your business and present them in the form of a simple dashboard for quick review and focus. This proactive approach will save you time and money.
Your data and video surveillance solution has the ability to address more than just safety and security issues. Monitoring shrink, inventory control, lifecycle monitoring, audit discrepancies, traffic control, access control, employee environment improvement and process efficiencies are all areas that can benefit from data captured from your security solution.
