Security Incident Reporting Software: Why Your Security Firm Needs It Now
The United States had 850,000 security guards in 2022, which is an increase of about 20,000 compared to 2021. Researchers equate the rising demand for guards with a dramatic increase in physical threat activity. According to a 2022 study, roughly 88% of physical security decision-makers at major US companies reported a dramatic increase in threat activity in 2021 and expect that threat to grow.
These trends have a global reach. Currently, at least half the world’s population lives in countries with more private security workers than public police officers. In more than 40 countries, including the US, China, Canada, Australia, and the UK, more workers are hired to protect specific people, places, and things than police officers, according to research.
In the US, market share concentration for the security industry is low. The top four companies generate less than 40% of the industry’s revenue. And that makes it competitive for smaller companies that operate in niche areas or serve specific geographic regions.
For security companies to remain competitive, guard technology has evolved. It currently consists of mobile devices (mobile apps), cloud software, drones, cameras, integrated biometric access control systems, and more.
Despite the variety of different options, security incident reporting software allows industry professionals to investigate incidents and respond decisively while optimizing, automating, and organizing processes for efficiency, storing records, and sharing information.
Incident reporting
Incident reporting can prevent accidents before they become a problem, and mitigating safety issues is a good practice for earning repeat business. Even when it’s impossible to avoid an incident, reporting it can help quickly resolve the problem. A timely incident response can help ensure client satisfaction and help avoid future incidents.
For physical security professionals, incident response involves the actions required by a company to detect, contain, and resolve a security threat, which could include trespassing, theft, false identification, public safety threats, and more.
What is an incident report?
Most security professionals are familiar with incident reports and security report writing. Incident report forms provide relevant details and facts pertaining to workplace incidents. Some businesses may have a different name for these report forms, like daily activity reports. However, these security operations or security services generally detail incidents that occur on-site and describe the incident timeline and steps it took to resolve the incident.
As technology has advanced, security reporting software has become paramount to incident response in relation to client retention. And that’s because security software provides resources that help with record keeping and sharing information. Those two factors are key when it comes to investigating incidents. It’s important to respond decisively and be able to provide evidence that shows steps were taken to resolve incidents.
Security incident reporting software is designed to provide a more holistic view of the operations and activities on a site, including triggering alerts and protocols to support quicker resolutions.
Creating an incident response plan
Ensuring that incidents are properly resolved generally involves taking preventative steps to address potential threats on-site that could lead to an incident. Workers must know their role in responding to any issues. Identifying how workers respond to incidents is a proactive approach.
In the event that an incident occurs, containing the situation is just as important. There should be communication methods in place to contain the incident while information is being shared between relevant employees.
After the incident, it’s necessary to investigate what caused the issue to understand how it can be prevented. Along with analyzing the incident, it’s necessary to take corrective action on processes, personnel, work audits, and technology used on-site. Finally, periodically reviewing the entire process is essential to ensuring that the incident response plan is effective.
Digital reporting and guard performance
Security guard reporting software helps security guard companies track where staffers are on a map. When managers know where everyone is located, that can help determine the best and closest staffer to respond to an issue. After an issue is resolved, the software helps with liability. That’s because digital logs can track incident details and show that necessary steps were taken to avoid the incident.
Increasing awareness at security checkpoints by making sure that key zones are serviced and setting up loop time to monitor when the last service was performed automatically are additional ways that security professionals can use software to ensure safety on the job.
Security reporting systems
Security incident reporting software promotes job safety by offering real-time data to help guards better respond to incidents or potential hazards, especially when they report incidents. A reliable incident report system also ensures that new and loyal customers have the information they need to review details about what led to an incident and how it was resolved during the reporting process, which is critical for the customer experience.
To continue learning about incident management solutions and incident management tools and how data from security reporting systems helps guards best respond to high-risk situations and offers valuable information for security business owners who want to evaluate their incident reporting system better, access our latest eBook:
Data and Reporting: Making Businesses More Performance-Driven
Partnering with TEAM Software
Partnering with TEAM Software by WorkWave can significantly benefit your security company. This security software is designed to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and ultimately help you grow your client list. Here are some key benefits and key features of using TEAM Software by WorkWave as your security guard management system:
1. Efficient Employee Management: You can easily schedule shifts, assign tasks, and track employee performance, ensuring that your team is working effectively and efficiently.
2. Real-Time Communication: The software allows for real-time communication between you and your team, enabling quick responses to client requests or changes in scheduling.
3. Automated Invoicing and Billing: Fully automates the invoicing and billing process, making it easy to keep track of payments and ensure timely billing for your clients.
4. Reporting and Analytics: Offers robust, detailed reports and analytics tools that give you valuable insights into your security business performance, allowing you to make data-driven decisions to optimize operations and grow your client list using in-depth analytics functions.
Closing Thoughts
In today’s fast-paced security environment, having a robust incident reporting system is not just beneficial—it’s essential. The ability to quickly contain incidents, communicate effectively among team members, and analyze what went wrong can significantly impact both the safety of personnel and the overall reputation of your organization. By adopting security incident reporting software like TEAM Software by WorkWave, security companies, and security teams can enhance their operational efficiency and improve their service quality.
Partnering with TEAM Software by WorkWave provides additional advantages that empower security firms to thrive in a competitive environment. With features designed for comprehensive employee management, real-time communication, automated invoicing, and powerful reporting tools, security companies can navigate challenges swiftly and effectively. See it for yourself; request a demo today!