Securitas has announced a new technology team. According to the multi-national secuity contractor, it will play a vital role in driving forward the firm’s strategy to integrate traditional guarding with evolving technologies.
The team, under a ‘Chief Technology Officer’ (CTO) brings with it a specialist technical knowledge that didn’t previously exist within the business, it says. Securitas Chief Technology Officer, Arthur Agnew says no other security company has made this kind of investment or has this extent of expert knowledge in-house.
Agnew says: “There are some big changes happening in the security industry today, skilled labour is becoming more expensive and sought after, and technology is developing at a fast pace, at the same time as becoming more affordable. In addition, a new generation of high-capacity telecom networks means the transmission of images and video is becoming more viable and secure. The opportunity is here to utilise technology more intelligently and, when coupled with specialist remote services, savings are there to be made.
“Advances in video analytics and intelligent cameras are enabling us to determine suspicious or dangerous behaviour at an early stage, thereby minimising the risk of business interruption. This means we are better equipped to detect potential crime before it happens – and do it more cost-effectively than before.”
Since 2011, the firm says, it has been working intensely to improve its internal technology competence and know-how worldwide. There is now a dedicated technology organisation in place in all its business segments, including chief technology officers in all major countries, a central support service and about 2,100 employees focused on technology and remote services such as monitoring.
Agnew says: “To deliver and manage our strategy, we have introduced an expert technology team which is at the forefront of driving the company along its ‘Solutions Journey’.”
The team is spread over the UK. Regional technology directors cover eight areas. They have the support of local technology managers, backed up by management and support staff. Projects are delivered through strictly managed partners, with a single point of contact to manage customer queries.
Securitas has spent £15m in a new Security Operating Centre in Milton Keynes, due to launch in September. The central technology team will be based here, maintaining the IT platforms and supporting the remote service and dispatch functions.
Agnew says: “Our strategy is to integrate static and mobile guarding services together with technology solutions to achieve cost-efficiency, added value and stronger customer relationships. A fundamental part of our strategy is to make the investment in the customer, through a CAPEX investment. We recognise businesses are under pressure to save money, year on year, and what better way to achieve this than to have a trusted partner take the investment for you.”
In the past 12 months Securitas adds, it has seen solutions conversions grow from 4pc to 10 per cent, with some top name customers within the commodities, facilities and media sectors.
Agnew says: “Our customers are increasingly looking for something more than just mainstream guarding. With our new technology team in place, we are perfectly aligned to put together a technology-based system which, together with our guarding, mobile, key holding and monitoring services, will provide a service that offers our customers greater flexibility and a more proactive security solution overall.”
Pictured: Arthur Agnew (centre) with his new CTO team.
