Introduction

People, Process, Technology is a business framework for best practices that will allow a company to achieve organisational efficiency. Each ‘pillar’ represents a point of focus, with the balance and harmony between the three being key to organisational transformation and management. 

As the pillars are interdependent, failure to address the needs of one compromise the structure as a whole. This framework is especially helpful for physical security enterprises deciding whether to purchase or implement new technologies. For example, if the technology does not integrate well with your processes, and your people find difficulty in using it, your company will not create value from its original investment in technology.

The article will discuss how each pillar feeds into the improvement of your physical security company, as well as steps you can take to address the needs of each pillar through its relationships with the others.

People

Physical security, like many other businesses, cannot exist without people. For a physical security enterprise, this involves the guards, managers, executives, and other staff. However, the bulk of the day-to-day operations fall on the hands of the employees who have to be active on the ground and those who manage them. 

Organisations need to ensure that their people are equipped with the tools to do their work effectively. Security guards should be empowered to do more than their rounds and stand in position. By making it easier and more efficient for them to fulfil the most mundane and repetitive tasks, they gain more opportunities to explore adding value to the company.

To facilitate this, security guards must be able to efficiently make incident reports during their rounds. Acquiring a physical security management software can streamline communication channels so guards can easily send reports or signal for help in changing situations.

Process

Most physical security companies still opt for pen and paper or wand-based methods, despite the considerable advantages of adopting physical security management software. This resistance to change is causing some companies to stagnate and miss out on profitable opportunities.

The inefficiency of analogue methods of documentation can be best observed with how security guards make reports. Physical security entails a large amount of documentation and other repetitive work. How efficient these duties can be carried out will vary depending on each guard’s individual skills, inclinations, and attitudes toward the work. Acknowledge the possibility that some guards might struggle with learning how to use new technology, and be prepared to provide adequate training opportunities. After all, cultivating a more tech-savvy workforce that is ready to embrace current technologies will serve your company better in the long run.

Automating as much of these menial processes as possible improves consistency — by removing the variance caused by the differences between security guards, your processes become more reliable. Additionally, more consistent processes aid in reinforcing SOP during turnovers, as technology enforces protocol to newcomers. By streamlining turnover with a standardised process, new hires can acclimate faster.

Technology

The security industry is not an exception to digital or technological transformation. Security professionals must adapt to emerging threats, especially from a technological standpoint. Nevertheless, there are various factors to consider whenever you want to adopt new technology for your business such as cost, reliance on legacy systems, capabilities of personnel, and so on. 

That said, technology offers great potential to improve your personnel’s quality of life, which in turn will enhance their performance. However, especially for a physical security team, new technology must improve processes without being too complicated. Before deciding to adopt technology, take complexity into account, because if your people cannot support the change and under-utilise the software, expect little or no return on investment.

Bringing Them All Together

Technology serves people, who will always play an integral part in any process. Even with the most powerful, automated security guard management software, guards still need to make their rounds, document visitor information, stay in their posts and so on. Thus, bridging the gap where people and technology interact is key to getting the most value. If there is any disconnect between the two, any potential to innovate might be lost.

Many business transformation strategies concentrate on technology and processes while almost ignoring the people involved. This creates an imbalance where your team might struggle to acclimate to the influx of new technology and processes, or even resist the changes altogether. Keep in mind that successful integration requires buy-in from your team. There must be genuine acceptance, otherwise, some members might not actively pursue mastering the new technology.

If your employees are too attached to legacy systems, you might need to invest in training to improve your company’s culture and empower your people to be more receptive of changes. Such hurdles are likely to persist until the culture shifts to appreciate the benefits of adopting new technology and the value of learning it.

You can build up the people component with help from a robust, yet intuitive security guard management software that can streamline your operations. Security Risk Manager (SRM) was designed with on-the-ground insight on what security professionals need to do their jobs better without being overly complex and is an ideal way to introduce the advantages of remote security operations to your team. 

The quality of the physical security software that you end up partnering with can make all the difference in successful integration. Choose a solution that provides comprehensive 24/7 support, as well as an onboarding process that will ease the transition into using the software.

It is crucial to identify and properly address roadblocks for your team to have a good relationship with the technology they are using. Make it a point to facilitate a culture that has people, process, and technology in harmony.

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