Businesses use security tech
to improve operations beyond safety
Tiago Jonaitis, Head of Electronic Security Systems for G4S in Brazil, explains how his team of experts in electronic security solutions have helped organisations customise their existing security technology to optimise other parts of their operations.
20 Jul 2021
Technological advancements have allowed us to do great things in the security space over the years and create more efficient and cost-effective solutions for our customers. But some organisations, which have seen great value in the vast amount of data collected by their security systems, are using this to enhance other aspects of their operations.
“Here in Brazil, our G4S colleagues focus heavily on innovation in order to offer smarter solutions to our customers,” said Tiago Jonaitis, Head of Electronic Security Systems for G4S in Brazil.
“Over the last few years, our engineers have developed over 20 different kinds of special features which can be used within our existing Symmetry systems, to optimise the enormous amounts of data which they collect.”
“Here in Brazil, our G4S colleagues focus heavily on innovation in order to offer smarter solutions to our customers,” said Tiago Jonaitis, Head of Electronic Security Systems for G4S in Brazil.
“Over the last few years, our engineers have developed over 20 different kinds of special features which can be used within our existing Symmetry systems, to optimise the enormous amounts of data which they collect.”
Over the last few years, our engineers have developed over 20 different kinds of special features which can be used within our existing Symmetry systems, to optimise the enormous amounts of data which they collect.
Optimising access control data
Access control is the backbone of most security systems and one of the best ways to protect your premises from unauthorised intruders. With the right system in place, organisations can decide who can enter a site, at what time they may enter, and also restrict access to critical areas to only authorised employees.
But with the right features, access control can also help organisations manage their operations and stay on top of headcount and footfall, especially when these operations require a great deal of compliance with labour laws.
Brazilian labour laws state that, between 2 working days, employees must be granted at least 11 hours of rest. Tiago explains that for one of our customers - a large manufacturing company which employs thousands of workers across the country - implementing a smart and reliable solution that would keep track of employee access according to their working hours was paramount.
“Our team of engineers offered a bespoke customisation which linked the organisation's HR database to the symmetry access control system already installed on site, so it wouldn’t grant access to any employee who hadn’t been off site for more than 11 hours.”
This small adjustment not only allows the company to protect the well-being of hundreds of workers, but also to adhere to labour laws and avoid costly fines.
“The vast amount of data that is collected by access control systems can offer businesses a great deal of insight which goes further than just security,” explains Tiago.
“We even have a customer which has saved on catering costs by using its access control data to accurately calculate how many meals should be served in canteens across its country-wide plants, depending on how many workers used their badge to access each site.”
A COVID-safe work environment
The COVID-19 pandemic has led numerous workplaces to close, but essential businesses and manufacturers had to keep operations running while revisiting their approach to workplace safety.
To restrict the risk of the virus spreading across workplaces, the use of thermal cameras sored, as these became invaluable tools to businesses with numerous employees arriving on site each day.
“We’ve installed more and more thermal cameras in busy workplaces throughout the pandemic so our customers could quickly detect signs of raised body temperatures as people arrive for work,” said Tiago.
“By integrating these cameras with existing solutions, instant alerts can be raised if an employee with a fever is detected by one of the cameras, and action can be taken as quickly as possible”
Other types of cameras can also alert organisations when large groups of people are detected, which allows them to quickly disperse crowds or reallocate workers to different stations to ensure appropriate social distance.
Increased workplace safety
Deploying these tools has been crucial to some businesses during these challenging times, but some businesses have been using the security solutions they already had on site to increase Covid safety measures,” Tiago added.
“For example, one of our customers worked with G4S to add a feature to its access control system, so that alerts would be raised when too many employees enter one area.”
As different access points are positioned throughout the site, each employee is required to use their badge to enter certain corridors, rooms, workfloors, or even the canteen. This allows the business to know where each employee is at any one time, and while this feature is usually used to account for everyone during an emergency, it can now also prevent the risk of crowding in certain areas.
“Businesses have had to change their approach to workplace safety which can be extremely costly, but this was a simple customisation which resulted in a quick and efficient way of automating Covid safety by using existing solutions,” said Tiago.
Follow this link for more information about the services we provide in Brazil.
“For example, one of our customers worked with G4S to add a feature to its access control system, so that alerts would be raised when too many employees enter one area.”
As different access points are positioned throughout the site, each employee is required to use their badge to enter certain corridors, rooms, workfloors, or even the canteen. This allows the business to know where each employee is at any one time, and while this feature is usually used to account for everyone during an emergency, it can now also prevent the risk of crowding in certain areas.
“Businesses have had to change their approach to workplace safety which can be extremely costly, but this was a simple customisation which resulted in a quick and efficient way of automating Covid safety by using existing solutions,” said Tiago.
Follow this link for more information about the services we provide in Brazil.