Enhance Tech Adoption for Retail Security
Emerging technology is helping retailers protect their stores, and a more protected store has the potential to create experiences that lead to greater brand affinity. Machine learning and artificial intelligence has put us in the “fifth industrial revolution,” said Tom Meehan, president of CONTROLTEK. You never want to be the first company that’s challenged — and you don’t want to be the last to adopt vital technology. Crime actors are using artificial intelligence to assist in interstate crimes and it’s imperative that cyber experts adopt the latest security tools.
Tech that can decode the intention of individuals is already in the works. FaceFirst’s “ethical face matching platform” tool combines human decision-making and assisted AI that could identify a previous shoplifter who is known to have violent tendencies, said Dara Riordan, president and COO of FaceFirst. Tools like this help remove human error and offer multiple layers of data for storing and tracking trends that help create robust profiles on threat individuals.
As with any new technological integration, retailers must consider whether there is more risk with the technology or without, and consider the legal and reputational challenges.
Craft a Future Where Knowledge and Storytelling Represent Power
Retail security leaders rely on the collection of data and production of information to make informed decisions. The right data collected leads to the dissemination of information that creates institutional knowledge.
Moving cohesively requires bringing in all stakeholders, even those who may not have traditionally been involved in all levels of the process. “Don’t take as gospel the business logic of your organization,” said Shawn Harris, deputy CISO of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Harris emphasized the importance of challenging processes and getting many voices at the table to help prevent blind spots. General counsels, public relations teams and others can help not only show the impact but tell a story of how new security tools and strategies could impact team members and the public.
Because not all departments speak the same language, data can help guide a “holistic defense” that is unmistakable, said Mark Plesser, manager of EdgeSec and digital fraud at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Combined with data, qualitative methods like storytelling also help illustrate the severity of loss. While discussing San Diego County’s model of organized retail theft prosecution, District Attorney Summer Stephan underlined the impact of sharing economic as well as emotional impacts of crime, such as how lack of safety creates an emotional toll on employees that ripple effects to the greater community.
Organized Retail Crime
Local stories on the impact of organized retail crime help paint a narrative that is impactful for policy as we get closer to new laws that address ORC. Take action now and share how organized retail crime is impacting your community by urging Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.
Nikolas Badminton, chief futurist at futurist.com, recommends retailers enter an era of anticipation, scanning for signals of change to keep their eyes on emerging threats around the corner. Utilizing imagination, anticipation and empathy, Badminton said retailers can use “futures work” to anticipate developing crime related to globalization.
How would crime prevention be defined in a society where organized crime could include stealing energy, food and water? Looking for pockets of the future in our current challenges and watching for “what if” moments can help us create safer societies.
“As a skill, we need to deepen our empathy … an empathy for the people we are trying to fight,” Badminton said. “Futures work doesn’t start in the future. It actually starts today.”
Enhance Tech Adoption for Retail Security
Emerging technology is helping retailers protect their stores, and a more protected store has the potential to create experiences that lead to greater brand affinity. Machine learning and artificial intelligence has put us in the “fifth industrial revolution,” said Tom Meehan, president of CONTROLTEK. You never want to be the first company that’s challenged — and you don’t want to be the last to adopt vital technology. Crime actors are using artificial intelligence to assist in interstate crimes and it’s imperative that cyber experts adopt the latest security tools.
Tech that can decode the intention of individuals is already in the works. FaceFirst’s “ethical face matching platform” tool combines human decision-making and assisted AI that could identify a previous shoplifter who is known to have violent tendencies, said Dara Riordan, president and COO of FaceFirst. Tools like this help remove human error and offer multiple layers of data for storing and tracking trends that help create robust profiles on threat individuals.
As with any new technological integration, retailers must consider whether there is more risk with the technology or without, and consider the legal and reputational challenges.
Craft a Future Where Knowledge and Storytelling Represent Power
Retail security leaders rely on the collection of data and production of information to make informed decisions. The right data collected leads to the dissemination of information that creates institutional knowledge.
Moving cohesively requires bringing in all stakeholders, even those who may not have traditionally been involved in all levels of the process. “Don’t take as gospel the business logic of your organization,” said Shawn Harris, deputy CISO of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Harris emphasized the importance of challenging processes and getting many voices at the table to help prevent blind spots. General counsels, public relations teams and others can help not only show the impact but tell a story of how new security tools and strategies could impact team members and the public.
Because not all departments speak the same language, data can help guide a “holistic defense” that is unmistakable, said Mark Plesser, manager of EdgeSec and digital fraud at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Combined with data, qualitative methods like storytelling also help illustrate the severity of loss. While discussing San Diego County’s model of organized retail theft prosecution, District Attorney Summer Stephan underlined the impact of sharing economic as well as emotional impacts of crime, such as how lack of safety creates an emotional toll on employees that ripple effects to the greater community.
Organized Retail Crime
Local stories on the impact of organized retail crime help paint a narrative that is impactful for policy as we get closer to new laws that address ORC. Take action now and share how organized retail crime is impacting your community by urging Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.
Nikolas Badminton, chief futurist at futurist.com, recommends retailers enter an era of anticipation, scanning for signals of change to keep their eyes on emerging threats around the corner. Utilizing imagination, anticipation and empathy, Badminton said retailers can use “futures work” to anticipate developing crime related to globalization.
How would crime prevention be defined in a society where organized crime could include stealing energy, food and water? Looking for pockets of the future in our current challenges and watching for “what if” moments can help us create safer societies.
“As a skill, we need to deepen our empathy … an empathy for the people we are trying to fight,” Badminton said. “Futures work doesn’t start in the future. It actually starts today.”
In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, retailers are leveraging emerging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance store protection and foster brand loyalty. Tom Meehan, president of CONTROLTEK, describes this era as the “fifth industrial revolution,” emphasizing the necessity for businesses to adopt these innovations swiftly to stay ahead of cybercriminals who are also utilizing AI for interstate crimes.
An example of this advanced tech is FaceFirst’s ethical face matching platform, which combines human decision-making with AI to identify known shoplifters with violent tendencies, thereby reducing human error and enhancing security data profiles, according to Dara Riordan, president and COO of FaceFirst. However, retailers must weigh the risks and legal implications of implementing such technologies.
Retail security leaders must utilize data collection and storytelling to make informed decisions and foster institutional knowledge. Shawn Harris, deputy CISO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, stresses the importance of involving diverse stakeholders to prevent blind spots and enhance decision-making processes. Mark Plesser from Dick’s Sporting Goods highlights the role of data in creating a holistic defense strategy.
District Attorney Summer Stephan emphasizes the power of storytelling in illustrating the broader impacts of retail crime, including economic and emotional effects on employees and communities. Local stories can influence policy, as seen in the push for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.
Nikolas Badminton, chief futurist at futurist.com, encourages retailers to adopt an anticipatory approach, using imagination and empathy to foresee and mitigate emerging threats. This approach, termed “futures work,” focuses on understanding and addressing current challenges to build safer societies.
In summary, integrating advanced technologies and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making and storytelling are pivotal for modern retail security. Engaging diverse stakeholders and adopting a forward-thinking mindset are crucial for anticipating and combating evolving crime threats.