Matas Retail Chain Discovers the Beauty of Integrated Video

Milestone Systems' open platform IP video management software (VMS) has been custom-integrated with a point-of-sale (POS) cash register transaction system as a valuable tool for loss prevention and controlling shrinkage in a chain of retail stores in Scandinavia called Matas.

Creams, perfumes and other personal care products are items that most people regularly pay for. However, some people prefer not to pay, which is why the retail chain Matas installed integrated video surveillance in many of its stores. Now the stores are able to compare cash register transactions with recorded video evidence. Matas personnel are pleased with this and would actually like to have more monitoring.

Matas has 2,500 employees, more than 25 million transactions per year and annual revenue of approximately 4 billion Danish crowns. Shrinkage is a problem that costs both human resources and money on the bottom line. For Matas management, shrinkage control is a high priority, so it was decided in 2010 to intensify the fight against it. One of the ways was with advanced IP video surveillance, initially in 65 of the chain's 258 stores.

Matas already has video surveillance in its stores, but it consists of many disparate systems that are difficult to support when they fail, and it is not easy to train new employees to use them. In addition, transactions at the cash register are not directly connected with the video recordings, which makes it time consuming to find suspicious incidents at checkout. Now these problems are solved in the stores where Matas has installed a Milestone solution.

"With the old systems, to identify shrinkage and procedural errors to clarify doubts about payments or giving change, we had to manually compare the video evidence with POS events from the cash register. It was costly and also meant we had to guess about possible false transaction events," says Marianne Gernyx Sejbak, Security Manager at Matas.

Cash register and video in sync

Matas therefore decided to implement advanced video surveillance equipment in 65 of its large stores, which could correlate transactions from cash registers with the video monitoring. The new solution is centralized so all system administration can be undertaken from the headquarters. Each store manager can leave the investigative work to central control and instead focus time on the daily management of the local store. However, the store managers do have access to video evidence so it can be used in connection with events such as shoplifting or payment disputes.

The video surveillance solution is XProtect's Corporate VMS and XProtect's Retail add-on software from Milestone Systems, implemented by EG Retail & Media, Scandinavia's largest supplier of IT solutions to retailers and media houses. The POS system generates documentation for all transactions, which is associated with the video evidence and simultaneously displayed on the screen via the Milestone XProtect's software.

"We are automatically alerted by the monitoring system when something seems abnormal at the cash register," says Helle Bakkendorf, Shop Controller and daily user of the system. "Cash registers might have been opened without any purchase taking place, or there might be canceled transactions where the customer pays in cash but the money is not in the cash register, suspicious transactions after closing, return sales on an exact amount and so on. We can also search a given period, actual amounts that were paid in cash, by credit card or gift certificate, or on specific brands and see the corresponding video recording. We can target our investigative work much better than before."

Beneficial for employees and customers

The system spares loyal Matas employees from possible suspicion of internal shrinkage. If it does occur, cases are resolved fast. Matas can now avoid such matters dragging on over extended periods which can generate a bad work environment. Video surveillance has actually become so popular that staff at the other stores ask for it, too.

"We obviously want maximum job satisfaction and well-being for our good employees and fortunately we have many of them," says Sejbak. "Video surveillance is largely implemented to provide security and safety - in connection with theft and assault, questions surrounding shrinkage and customer disputes. Did the customer get the right amount? There is no doubt now since we immediately resolve it with evidence on the screen."

The video solution also contains people counting analytics, which tally the number of customers in a store. Each store can compare this with the number of sales and adjust work schedules to ensure proper staffing for better customer service. The entire solution thereby works as a management tool to optimize operations.

"There are many advantages to the new video surveillance. It has created a much better working environment for all our dedicated employees, who can now concentrate on what they do best, namely to advise on and sell beauty, skincare and health products. It also has an anti-theft effect. Matas plans to get the same video surveillance installed in more stores," says Bakkendorf.


 

Featured

  • Making the Grade with Locks and Door Hardware

    Managing and maintaining locks and door hardware across a school district or university campus is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Knowing the basics of common door hardware, including locks, panic devices and door closers, can make a difference in daily operations and emergency situations. Read Now

  • Choosing the Right Solution

    Today, there is a strong shift from on-prem installations to cloud or hybrid-cloud deployments. As reported in the 2024 Genetec State of Physical Security report, 66% of end users said they will move to managing or storing more physical security in the cloud over the next two years. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3