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IMS: Retailers looking for more than just security from integrators

Historically, the retail market has been characterised by low prices and basic, easy-to-use security solutions. Although these remain critical success factors for the market, increasingly loss prevention managers are looking for creative, customised solutions to the key risks they deal with on a day-to-day basis.
 
According to report author, Ewan Lamont, “When we asked end-users what they were looking for in a  systems integrator, the majority would say they were looking for companies that took the time to understand their business, ask them about their needs and provide specific solutions to their specific problems: making them feel valued. The biggest concern was regarding companies just pushing equipment sales and not looking at the bigger picture.”
 
“Retailers look to the integrator — the security specialist — to take care of security so that they can continue selling and making money,” says Lamont. “They want a total solution, not just a security camera. Many retailers felt that integrators were falling short on meeting their specific needs, defaulting to generic security solutions, reducing the effectiveness and perceived success of a solution.”
 
This was a common concern from end-users throughout each of the vertical markets covered in the “Vertical Insights” report series, but was particularly prominent in the retail sector. With the systems integration market in retail estimated at around US$5.5 billion world-wide in 2010, systems integrators that can provide more creative security solutions will have a great opportunity to take a bigger slice of this market.
 
The Vertical Insights reports focus on video surveillance and security in the banking & finance, city surveillance, critical infrastructure, retail and transport markets. The reports identify the key risks, critical success factors, decision process and technology trends for each market.