The COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm for companies that required on-site security. Complex, ever-changing compliance rules, staffing shortages, and a wave of tenant vacancies put immense pressure on property managers to find solutions.
The first step in establishing effective security is closing gaps in security staffing schedules. Currently, the industry is facing a shortage of qualified security professionals thanks to a tight job market.
What is Creating Staffing Shortages?
A number of factors are shrinking the pool of job seekers from which security companies can hire employees.
The most obvious is the pandemic itself, which laid hundreds of thousands low with serious health conditions. Many workers chose to stay home and collect unemployment rather than putting themselves or at-risk family members in danger.
Even fully staffed teams faced potential shortages when employees or contractors called in sick. What would normally be brushed off as a cold became non-negotiable sick leave for the duration of a two-week quarantine period.
To make matters worse, what is and is not permissible on the job site in terms of PPE and safety protocols could change on a weekly, sometimes even daily, basis.
Companies that are faced boom periods like grocery stores and ecommerce retailers were offering hiring bonuses and hazard pay to entice prospects. Building owners, who were often facing a decrease in revenue from lost tenants, had a tough time competing with these incentives.
At the same time, criminal activity rose up in some places, including both vandalism and commercial burglaries. We saw a significant uptick in businesses looking to solve this problem through hiring physical security guards at any cost during this period. Property owners needed to find a solution for their shortage — and fast.
Overcoming Shortages with Technology
Technology can help fill this gap by expanding the territory a single security officer can cover.
Already a popular solution for budget-friendly security solutions in temporary settings, remote surveillance and live event monitoring offers an affordable way to cover security staffing shortages due to pandemic outbreaks, labor shortages, and budget constraints.
Remote surveillance uses a suite of complete end-to-end technology solutions, including high-definition cameras with advanced customization and plug-and-play add-ons, to create a comprehensive security monitoring system.
With live video monitoring from ECAM, these cameras are used to cover high-traffic areas, where feeds are monitored by trained and experienced security professionals.
Remote surveillance monitoring can be used to support existing security teams, and to cover off-hours shifts where staffing gaps can have the biggest impact on safety and loss prevention.
Staffing shortages initially created by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic uncertainty will likely continue to impact the security industry for some time.
Solutions that prove valuable for filling short-term gaps will also help create value long after things have returned to normal. For companies that see this unsure moment as an opportunity to innovate, there’s likely a lot to gain in the years to come.
Want to find out how a Virtual Command Center can help protect your business?
Contact us now for a free demo, or to speak with a security specialist in your area.
