How Can I Improve Warehouse Security?

With both people and inventory to care for, security is a critical element in every warehouse environment. Having the right measures in place goes a long way toward creating a safer, more efficient workspace. Continue reading to discover seven tips to improve your warehouse’s security posture.

Seven Tips to Help Bolster Your Warehouse’s Security Measures

Warehouse theft is a major issue all over the globe, as both internal and external incidents cost companies millions of dollars every year in damages, losses, and disruptions. Luckily, there’s a few actions you can take to protect your business, including:

1. Upgrade Your Access Control Systems

Yes, most warehouses and industrial storage facilities already use some form of access control systems. But many are still relying on old, outdated server systems. By updating to a more modern access control system, like cloud-based security platforms, you’re able to provide your warehouse with better security measures. Cloud-based, mobile access control systems are a smart investment because they strengthen security across the board. This comes along with several other benefits, including:

Remote access to the security management dashboard
Eliminates key cards and fobs with smartphone-based credentials
Cloud-based software is automatically updated without expensive maintenance fees
Customizable permissions for different levels of access
Ability to adjust schedules for warehouse door locks at any time
All access activity is logged for easy auditing and improved compliance

With mobile credentials, employees have access to every authorized site with a single credential, as opposed to using a separate key card for every building or zone. Additionally, access control systems give site managers a holistic view of their security operations, helping them instantly make changes, revoke an employee’s access, change group schedules, or add new entries into the system.

2. Install Warehouse Security Cameras

Installing warehouse security cameras throughout your facility helps provide visibility into incoming and outgoing products as well as verifying who’s accessing the space. It should go without saying, but having eyes on what is going on inside the warehouse goes a long way toward improving employee safety.

When choosing a warehouse security camera system, look for equipment with real-time recording, automatic archiving, and high-resolution video quality. Depending on your specific industry, you might have specific requirements for video retention, so check with local authorities to ensure your warehouse security camera system meets industry standards.

Looking for high-quality security cameras to safeguard your warehouse? Medlin offers indoor and outdoor camera systems for businesses of all sizes to enhance your security posture and provide peace of mind to owners, workers, and visitors alike.

Invest in Your Warehouse’s Security

3. Take Advantage of Remote Management

For companies with multiple storage buildings or warehouses, access control systems with remote capabilities help reduce administrative burden by centralizing security management on one easily accessible interface. Even if you only have one warehouse, remote management still has an impressive ROI on your business. Cloud-based systems with remote monitoring capabilities allow admins and managers to see what’s happening in real-time without being onsite. Not only is this great for after-hours security, but it’s also beneficial at times when staffing at the warehouse is limited due to capacity constraints. In the case of a break-in or other emergency, every minute counts, which makes access control systems with remote capabilities worth every penny.

4. Enable Alerts and Notifications

In order to take full advantage of remote management, your security teams should set up alerts and notifications whenever warehouse alarm systems are triggered. For example, by setting an alert for access events—such as doors left open or repeated use of unauthorized credentials—access control systems can send a text or email to handle the response. Even better, with customizable alert options, notifications could go to different people based on their work schedules, the time of day, or the specific zone. Basically, this keeps the right people informed, making your response time quicker and more efficient.

5. Integrate Your Inventory Management Systems

If you’re looking to truly bolster your warehouse’s security measures, consider incorporating RFID and barcode scanners into your inventory tracking. This is a common upgrade, as it helps eliminate manual data logging while reducing the chance of human error. And thanks to recent technological developments, many manufacturing and warehouse inventory management systems are built on open and cloud-based platforms. Connecting your inventory management system to access control and warehouse video surveillance systems opens the door for automation across your entire warehouse operation.

As an example, a popular use for integrated RFID inventory management is linking employee access credentials to their user accounts. This aggregated data increases accountability, which in return, helps warehouse managers identify ways to improve productivity. Simply put, integrated systems provide a more proactive approach to your daily warehouse management, as you get loads of data from several different systems ingested into your analytics tools.

6. Create a Response Plan for Emergencies

Dealing with any type of emergency—especially theft—is stressful. Luckily, by taking a proactive approach to warehouse security, you’re able to reduce the impact of a crisis. As a helpful tip, when creating warehouse emergency plans, it’s essential to consider the unique features of each of your buildings. Evaluate the number of people that come in and out of your facility each day, and the specific types of items each warehouse location stores. Just remember, a good warehouse security system should also include lockdown capabilities. In the event of an emergency, you need to be able to lock down the facility—for both loss prevention and safety purposes. Fortunately, remote access control systems enable authorized individuals to trigger a lockdown plan from anywhere.

Medlin Communications: A Trusted Provider of High-Quality Warehouse Security Systems

Looking to take your warehouse security to the next level? Good news, Medlin Communications can help. From video surveillance to access control and custom analytics, we have a complete list of warehouse security solutions to keep your property safe and secure. Start a conversation with the experts to learn more, and discover the Medlin difference.

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How Can I Improve Warehouse Security?