What Guard Tour Systems Suit Your Security Company the Best?
As the world of digital transformation continues to grow in importance for all staffing industries, a dedicated guard tour system is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore for security companies that need to track and provide reports on guard tours for their clients.
What Is a Security Guard Tour System?
Guard tour systems are tools designed to help security personnel or guards monitor and manage their patrols and activities. These systems typically consist of a handheld device, watch or a mobile app that is used to scan checkpoints within a determined time period with NFC, iBeacon or RFID tags placed at specific locations during a security patrol.
The security guard tour system records the time and location of each checkpoint scanned, providing a detailed record of the security guard or patrol's movements and activities during their shift. This information can be used to verify that the guard performed their duties correctly and provide evidence or proof of their presence at specific locations.
Some cloud guard tour systems also offer additional features such as GPS tracking, real-time reporting and alerts, and incident management tools. These features can help security companies to optimize their operations and improve their overall level of service to clients.
Why Are Security Guards' Checkpoint Reports Important?
Security guard checkpoint system can pro reporvide reports that are an essential tool for ensuring accountability, improving efficiency and safety, and providing reports and documentation for clients. By using a guard tour system with checkpoint reports, your security company can provide a higher level of service to protect your clients and ensure that your guards are doing their job effectively and efficiently.
Ensure Security Guard Accountability
Checkpoint reports provide a record of the guard on patrol's movements and activities during their shift, creating a sense of accountability. By documenting each checkpoint visit time, you can ensure that your security guard is doing their job properly and following the scheduled tours and established protocols.
In the case when patrols have missed checkpoints, a dedicated software solution will provide the data on exactly what checkpoint is missed or which ones have been checked but not in a timely manner. This will avoid any potential three-way disputes between your patrol and your clients.
Provide Evidence for Clients
Checkpoint reports can provide crucial evidence for your clients to ensure that their property is well-guarded. The reports can also be used to establish a timeline of events and help to identify any areas where security measures need to be improved.
Providing guard tour reports for your clients will improve your customer relationships, build your security staffing company's brand and increase its reliability. This is crucial if you are planning to grow your business, increase sales and tackle more challenging projects.
Improve Efficiency
By using a guard tour system with checkpoint reports, the security management company can gain valuable insights into how the guard is performing their duties. This can help to identify areas where the guard may need additional training and development or where processes can be improved to make the guard's job more efficient.
Increase Safety
Checkpoint reports can also help to improve safety on the premises. By documenting any safety hazards or incidents with a security guard checkpoint system, customers and the security company can take steps to address them, report them promptly and prevent future incidents from occurring.
Provide Documentation for Clients
Clients may require documentation of the guard's activities as part of their service level agreement (SLA). By providing detailed daily activity reports, the security company can demonstrate that they are fulfilling their contractual obligations and providing the level of service expected by the client.
Which Guard Tour System Technology Is Best for You?
When deciding on which type of guard tour system to use, it is important to understand the technologies behind them with the pros and cons of each to choose the right fit. Technology should be chosen depending on your most common projects.
NFC (Near Field Communication)
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that allows two devices to communicate with each other over short distances, typically up to a few centimetres. NFC is commonly used in mobile payments, but it's also a popular choice for guard tour checkpoint systems due to its low cost, high accuracy, and ease of implementation.
In a guard tour system that uses NFC technology, each checkpoint is equipped with an NFC tag, which can be scanned by the guard's handheld device or mobile app. When the tag is scanned, the device records data about the time and location of the scan, creating a log of the guard's movements and activities during their shift.
NFC offers several advantages over other technologies, such as high accuracy, low cost, and the ability to perform the work in environments where other technologies may struggle. However, the limited range of NFC means that the guard needs to get very close to the checkpoint to scan it.
Pros
Very low-cost
Very easy to implement
High accuracy and reliability
Doesn't require line-of-sight, meaning the checkpoints can be placed inside objects or walls
Supports two-way communication, allowing for more advanced features like real-time messaging
Cons
Requires the guard to get very close to the checkpoint to register it
Not suitable for extreme weather conditions
Use cases
An example of a use case for an NFC-based guard tour system is a residential or commercial building with multiple floors that need to be patrolled. In this scenario, each floor would have several checkpoints with NFC tags, which the guard can scan using a handheld device or mobile app. The NFC tags can be easily installed on walls or doors, and the low cost of the technology makes it a suitable choice for smaller buildings or low-budget projects.
iBeacon
iBeacon is a location-based technology developed by Apple that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to transmit signals between devices. iBeacon works by sending out a signal that can be detected by other devices within range, allowing for more accurate location tracking and personalised messaging.
In a cloud guard tour system that uses iBeacon technology, each armed officer at a checkpoint is equipped with an iBeacon device, which emits a signal that can be detected by the guard's handheld device or mobile app. When the device detects the signal, it records the time and location of the scan, creating a log of the guard's movements and activities during their shift.
iBeacon offers more granular location information and a longer range for avoiding manual check-in. However, iBeacon is more expensive than NFC and requires more technical expertise to implement.
Pros
Offers a long range of up to several meters.
Provides more granular location information.
Automation eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors or omissions.
Customisation to suit the specific needs of a security operation, with different beacon frequencies and ranges.
Environmental flexibility lets iBeacons be placed in a variety of locations, including indoor and outdoor environments, making them suitable for a range of security applications.
Compatibility with most modern mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, making them easily accessible for security guards.
Cons
Higher cost compared to NFC
Requires more technical expertise to implement
Use cases
An example of a use case for an iBeacon-based guard tour system is a large industrial facility with a complex layout that requires more precise location tracking. In this scenario, each checkpoint would be equipped with an iBeacon device, which would transmit a signal that can be detected by the guard's mobile app or handheld device. The longer range of iBeacon technology makes it suitable for larger facilities.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a wireless technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. RFID is commonly used in inventory management, but it's also chosen for guard tour checkpoint systems due to its ability to work in harsh environments.
In a guard tour system that uses RFID technology, each checkpoint is equipped with an RFID tag, which can be detected by the guard's handheld device or mobile app. When the tag is detected, the device records the time and location of the scan, creating a log of the guard's movements and activities during their shift.
RFID offers a long read range and the ability to work in outdoor environments and extreme weather conditions. However, RFID also has many drawbacks, such as the requirement for line-of-sight between the tag and the reader and the potential for interference from other radio frequencies and security risks.
Pros
Works in outdoor environments and harsh conditions
Long range
Offline mode
Cons
Very expensive setup
Requires line-of-sight, meaning the checkpoints must be visible to the reader
Limited two-way communication capabilities
Can be subject to interference from other radio frequencies
Privacy concerns over data management and personal information
Security concerns over tag cloning and eavesdropping
Use Cases
An example of a use case for an RFID-based guard tour system is a large outdoor facility such as a park or stadium that requires rugged and reliable technology. In this scenario, each checkpoint would have an RFID tag that the guard's handheld device or mobile app can detect.
QR Codes
QR security patrolling is a method of security patrolling that uses QR (Quick Response) codes to track a security guard's movements and activities. The QR codes are placed at various checkpoints throughout a site, and the guard uses a mobile device to scan each code as they pass by.
When the QR code is scanned, it records the date, time, and location of the scan, and this information is sent to a central monitoring system in real time. The system then generates a report that shows the guard's movements and activities, providing a clear picture of the guard's patrol route and any incidents that occurred during their shift.
QR security patrolling offers advantages over traditional paper-based patrolling systems but is very prone to security risks, such as QR code manipulation, data interception, mobile device security and lack of encryption.
Pros
Cheap
Compatible with Android and Apple devices
Better than a pen-and-paper system
Cons
Extremely prone to security risks
Requires a working phone camera
No customisability
Use Cases
QR code-based can be used in any guard tour system to replace a legacy pen-and-paper system, but organisations should be aware of the security risks. For this reason, the technology should be implemented in projects like cleaning and maintenance that will not gain the attention of bad actors.
Why Choose PARiM?
A security guard checkpoint system is only one of the many features that PARiM provides for your security company. PARiM is an all-in-one security management software based on cloud technology for providing scheduling automation, time tracking, streamlined communication and quick payroll processing.
Options for Both NFC and iBeacon
For guard tours and checkpoint scanning, PARiM provides you with a security guard checkpoint system that works with NFC and iBeacon, depending on what your company benefits the most from. Both can be implemented simultaneously to provide your staff with the ability to work on very different types of security patrols.
Automated Scheduling Process
PARiM provides you with an all-in-one staff scheduling software platform to quickly create and fill shifts. You can create advanced shift patterns based on weekdays, ON/OFF or specific days of the month.
Schedules and shift patterns can be assigned to specific guards or published as open shifts. Each staff member that matches the needed qualifications will receive an open shift notification to their mobile devices. This also provides an excellent solution for finding replacements in case of unforeseen absences.
GPS Time Tracking
Some jobs may not need checkpoints or rounds. But in these cases, it is equally important to know that officers are at the right job sites on time. PARiM GPS Time Clock provides you with geofencing to ensure that your security officers will be able to clock in and out on their mobile devices only at their job sites.
Lone Worker Safety
When you manage a multitude of security projects that need lone workers, it is crucial to ensure their safety. PARiM provides you with automatic check calls and incident reports to ensure your lone workers' without need for additional administrative tasks. This will help you cut costs and focus on growing your business.
Provide Clients with Direct Access
What could be better than providing guard tour reports for your clients after job completions? Providing all the data in real time. PARiM Client Portal and Client Access App give you the option to have your clients see guard tour checkpoints in real-time on their PARiM desktop environment or from mobile devices.
Your clients will also be automatically notified of any filled shifts, and staff changes for transparent communication. Additionally, you can provide your clients with the option to approve timesheets for a quick three-way approval to achieve a faster payroll process and reduce any unnecessary touchpoints.
Unlimited Number of Users
This is where your security staffing agency will find the edge over the competition. After implementing a staff scheduling system and providing real-time updates and alerts on events and reports to your clients, the only thing standing in the way of your growth is the number of available security officers.
Most staff scheduling providers charge you per user. This can make it difficult to decide whether to add a new temporary or part-time staff member to the database, as with low demand in season, you risk losing revenue while still paying for idle security officers.
PARiM provides customers with no-per-user-based pricing with an unlimited number of free users. This creates a risk-free situation for security agencies as they can add as many temporary or part-time employees that can all be called upon for new jobs with Open Shift Notifications.
How to Get Started?
You can implement PARiM Staff Management Software and the Checkpoint Module for your security company by following these steps:
Sign up for a PARiM account and start your free trial. This includes the Checkpoint Module.
Book a free demo to let our experts personally guide you through the features that will benefit your company the most.
Create your security guard profiles in PARiM Staff Database
Let your security guards download the PARiM app for Android or iOS and log in from their mobile devices.
Set up the checkpoint module, create checkpoints, and assign them to specific locations and guards.
Create your client profiles, let them download the PARiM app for Android or iOS and log in from their mobile devices to see checkpoints in real time.
Learn from Others
See how others in the industry have benefitted from PARiM Security Staff Management Software. After implementing PARiM, Eastern Security Corporation employs over 500 security guards and provides services for the whole of the New York Metropolitan area.
Birmingham-based Cre8 Security overhauled and streamlined its management for an efficient and cost-effective process. For National Business Crime Solution (NBCS), PARiM ensured that their processes can be continuous by providing quick replacements for absent staff members.
