The United Services Union, or Ver.di for short, is a very strong and prominent union. Together with the BDSW, which has more than a quarter of a million members, employee representatives regularly advocate for wage adjustments and inflation-adjustment payments. Initial demands for the 2022 collective bargaining round have been put on the table in several federal states, and it is expected that employees in the security industry will receive higher pay by the end of the year, thereby resulting in noticeably higher labor costs. This is a reality that must be acknowledged and addressed.
Rising employee compensation—and, consequently, the increasing overall costs of security projects—is not a new issue, but due to a lack of alternatives, it has been “simply” accepted until now. According to the latest Lünendonk Study, customer expectations are also rising, even though they are “spending” less and less money on them. A downward spiral that inevitably leads to collapse.
Implementing complex scenarios with high quality and future-proof design—how does that work?
Service providers must adapt to the changing market conditions and the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. In the future, large-scale projects and challenging tasks will only be able to be carried out to the required standard by companies that, on the one hand, continuously provide their staff with further training and, on the other hand, are already breaking new ground when it comes to developing safety concepts.
As should be clear by now, the exclusive use of “human security personnel” makes sense only in exceptional cases. Anyone who is now shaking their head in surprise should realize that this has long been a reality. After all, there is hardly any facility worth protecting that does not have perimeter sensors, fixed cameras, door control and access systems, or similar measures—measures that, however, reach their limits simply because they are location-bound. Until now, “mobile components” have often included security guards for patrols, technical staff for monitoring system status, reception staff for visitor services, and so on. But what can be done when there simply aren’t enough personnel available and, as mentioned at the outset, cost pressures continue to rise?
Smart AI Solutions for Sustainable Security
One solution is to incorporate mobile robotic systems into the mix of components. These mechanical colleagues, perfectly equipped for any situation thanks to AI software, then take over precisely those areas where they can play to their strengths—such as with great, fatigue-free endurance, 360° all-around and night vision, and smart connectivity. Trained employees, on the other hand, are primarily assigned tasks where human intuition, tact, experience, and decision-making skills are most effective.
Another advantage is the tight integration and communication among all IoT components, which enables the seamless integration of the new technology into existing systems. This is made possible by modular, scalable software platforms designed for seamless human-machine collaboration, such as these Developed by Security Robotics … As a result, quality improves—despite regulated labor costs!
So let’s take a fresh and sustainable look at the issue of security together and find a cost-effective solutionthat can also withstand future rate increases or market uncertainties.