Six Things Security Operations Managers Need from Software

Improve efficiency and performance with the right software for your security company.

As your security company’s operations manager, your overall job and day-to-day processes rely heavily on technology. But when your tech system no longer meets your needs because of operational shortcomings and a lack of integration, it’s time to look at new software for your security company.

Implementing a new software solution might seem daunting and you might think it’s easier to make do rather than invest time and money into learning something new. However, reliance on inefficient operational processes actually holds your company back, not to mention makes your job harder.

Your goal should be to find a system that has the same useful functions of your current system, while adding new functions your current system can’t do. Not to mention, it should also keep your operations consistent while you improve on efficiency and performance. To help you determine whether a potential software solution can meet your goals as an operations manager, here’s a list of six things you need.

An Industry-Specific Focus

Security businesses like yours face unique operational challenges when it comes to your guards in the field. Lines of communication are less direct, scheduling your guards can be overwhelming and tracking and managing compliance requirements is complicated. Because of the specific ins-and-outs of contract security, you need a software solution developed specifically for your business that offers flexible features like time and attendance, compliance tracking and workforce scheduling to help solve those everyday challenges.

Integration from Back Office to Field

You need a solution that’s integrated and can fulfill your needs in the back office while also going with your guards to job sites and back again. That’s why robust web and mobile features that interact through shared data and are available anywhere are key. Look for a software solution that offers different user roles to keep your information as accessible as possible to the right people at the right time.

Automated Processes and Data

If you’ve ever had to deal with corrupt files and lost spreadsheets, you know how important it is to have your valuable data and information backed up and protected. Not to mention the time-consuming and inefficient nature of tasks like reconciling paper timesheets for payroll is inefficient and can lead to data inaccuracies. Your technology should allow you to eliminate most, if not all, spreadsheet and paper processes, saving you time and money — and headaches. Plus, you should have top-notch security around your business and employee data, which things like spreadsheets, email and paper simply don’t have. Look for a solution that houses your data from across the organization in one place and shares one common business language and one system of record.

Predict and Prevent Capabilities

Speaking of data, as the security industry moves away from an observe-and-report mentality towards a predict-and-prevent one, you need to make proactive operational decisions to get ahead of further issues. As an operations manager, data is your key to digging deeper into the inner workings of your security business. Having your latest actionable, in-depth data consolidated and easy to visualize through reports and analytics allows you to find answers to the questions you already have and bring new priorities into focus. Look for a software solution that can help you leverage data to positively affect your bottom line through improved customer service.

Compliance and Regulations

Staying in compliance with labor and other federal requirements and regulations is necessary to avoid costly fines and penalties. Certain jobs may require training, certifications or even special equipment which can be hard to keep track of, especially with your guards. Look for a solution with comprehensive labor and job-specific compliance management, along with tracking, to give you peace of mind that you’re on top of federal and state regulations and customer service-level agreements (SLAs).

Self-Service Accessibility

Offering a self-service solution as part of your security software system is an easy way to boost employee engagement and productivity, even more so when you pair employee self-service with a mobile timekeeping solution. Guards and supervisors can leverage other job-related tools on their mobile devices, and you get the increased productivity that comes with on-the-go accessibility. By incorporating timekeeping and employee self-service into your business operations, you increase employee engagement, decrease time theft and eliminate redundant data entry.

If you know there are areas for improvement when it comes to your operational processes, software systems and data collection, it’s time to focus on an industry-specific security software solution and what it can do for your business, not only now, but in the future. Software is a big investment, so you want a technology solution to future-proof your business and support you as you grow.

Want to learn more about integrated software for your security company? Read our ERP Definitive Guide.