KiwiRail train carriage, heading towards Wellington in 2013 faced a mishap where a carriage derailed because of a poor handover during the night shift change. The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission report disclosed that the maintenance staff failed to install split pins to bolts, which anchored a critical part, hence causing the derailing. It was revealed that this omission was made ten weeks before this disaster occurred. This defect may have never existed if clear instructions and reparation tasks had been timely received, protecting passengers from the injuries they faced.
Implementing a real-time reporting system is of great importance for preventing such incidents. Real-time reporting of operation and maintenance activities guarantees good communication, making information sharing possible. The systems mentioned above provide current information, reduce confusion, and ensure effective performance of all activities. Such an approach promotes safety and helps avoid occurrences that result from errors and misunderstandings.
In this blog, G Force Security will explain why real-time reporting is important in security and its benefits, functions, and support systems.
What is Real-time reporting?
Real-time reporting refers to the process of creating and sharing information during events. This allows an organization to make decisions on the spot and quickly change the course of action if necessary. Security reporting enables organizations to develop preventive security and loss prevention measures since it involves reporting theft, vandalism, or some activities during certain times.
The survey results show that 28% of organizations in 2022 experienced an increase in security events, which should increase yearly. Security guards are crucial in the prevention of crimes. Still, they are even more efficient in the fight against theft and vandalism if modern security reporting systems accompany them.
Real-time reporting in the security industry entails continuously collecting, observing, and evaluating data to provide up-to-date information on events. In this way, security guards can observe the situation in real-time and act accordingly to the discrepancies or threats. Real-time reporting is supported by efficient software systems, devices, and sensors that give the most up-to-date data.
How does it work?
Security incident reporting in real-time is crucial to ensure that all the security incidents occurring in the workplace are recorded and addressed. Security incident reports of all kinds should be filed, and follow-up procedures such as risk assessment, investigation, remedial action and approval should be incorporated.
In the context of dealing with a security breach, incident report records can prove very helpful. Information that should be provided includes the date and time of the incident, information about any assets that may have been affected, and the contact information of all parties involved. It should also include details of every aspect of the reaction process, from initial contact to final cleaning. Compliance with all relevant measures in the response process would help minimize any financial or other losses that may arise.
What are the advantages of real-time reporting?
Some occurrences, such as office lights left on after working hours, can be easily corrected without involving the clients. At the same time, in other cases, it is important to get feedback to ensure the proper measures are being taken. A major crisis may be avoided urgently if the correct information gets to the right people.
Real-time security reporting has many benefits that enhance the effectiveness and speed of operations. These are a few main advantages: These are a few main advantages:
Risk Control
Real-time reporting involves constantly monitoring data to identify trends and potential risks that can be addressed before they become a problem, thus enhancing the overall security plan. Furthermore, the GPS tracking feature of the guards can also send the incident report or request an emergency backup. They can also ask questions, provide client requests, and even get assistance from managers in real-time.
Effective Security Patrols
Rapid response
Real-time reporting helps the security teams to act quickly and prevent further harm or escalation of the situation.
Enhanced Situation Awareness
Real-time reporting provides security personnel with current information to make sound decisions and have adequate knowledge of the current situation.
Accurate Decision-making
Real-time data may help in decision-making processes and enable efficient resource allocation and incident management, which can be done faster and with better results.
Improved Accountability
Real-time monitoring makes security tasks more open and accountable as it tracks numerous events as they happen.
Earn Public Trust
Real-time reporting can benefit Security companies as it shows that they are committed to providing safety and efficiency to the staff and the public, hence gaining the trust of their clients.
On the same note, the modern security system has reduced the reporting processes to guarantee that real-time notifications can be appropriately given as and when they are due. Indeed, with the right software, guards can send reports directly from their devices or smartphones with recent reporting systems, which have gotten rid of paperwork.
How real-time reporting protects your security?
Real-time security incident reporting systems provide clients with immediate access to security incidents to enhance the clients’ situational awareness, response time, threat detection and analysis, legal requirements, and risk mitigation. It can further provide enhanced security to the following: It can further provide enhanced security to the following:
Improved Guard Performance and Incident Management
A sound, real-time monitoring system allows guards to interact with the managers or back-office personnel in real time. These systems can be integrated with smartphones or any other gadgets the guards use. The managers can use GPS tracking to set digital points within the system that the patrolling guards should visit and report their progress. When a guard gets to a checkpoint, the system alerts the managers using the guard’s GPS location. This means the security company does not have to place physical barriers or devices in the area since everything can be done online.
If a guard cannot finish the patrol route or misses some checkpoints, the system sends an alert to the manager.
Business Security
In real-time, businesses can monitor the access points, monitor intruders, and ensure that security measures are followed to the letter.
Event Security
Through reporting, crowd control is well managed and prompt action is taken in the event of any complications regarding the safety of the participants.
Public safety
Security officers can quickly monitor public areas and attend to incidents because they receive quick alerts of suspicious activities.
Residential Security
Information about potential security threats, such as fire or a break-in, is received immediately, allowing immediate action to protect people and things.
Challenges that come with real-time reporting
Some challenges that may hinder companies from fully benefiting from real-time reporting include difficulty handling issues such as data velocity and volume, data accuracy and variability in data format and structure. The most common problems in real-time reporting are as follows:
Information Security
It is a great challenge to overcome all the privacy concerns while at the same time ensuring safety measures. It is, therefore, essential to achieve real-time reporting that respects the individual’s right to privacy while simultaneously providing robust protection measures.
Cost
There could be difficulties in implementing the real-time reporting systems in terms of administration and finance. Organizations must consider the financial implications and gradual rollout to manage costs and ensure a smooth implementation.
Conclusion
In the field of security, real-time reporting has not been practiced before. It significantly enhances the capability to protect people, assets, and data by enabling rapid response, improving the understanding of the environment, and providing evidence-based recommendations. Real-time reporting will be even more valuable as technology advances, turning into a necessity in an attempt to achieve security and safety.
We are proud to introduce our new improvement in security measures for GForce Security, the real-time reporting system. We fully comprehend the never-ending process of enhancement and incorporation in security. Therefore, we always try our best to protect your safety even better.
