The Guard Scan also called detex system is one of the most important tools for a security company to keep their security guards accountable and to provide reports to clients about the activities of security officers while they are providing security services to the client. As a security consultant I have been part of taking over security contracts from other security companies that did not provide service to the client’s satisfaction numerous times. The most stated reason why the clients were making a change were that security guards were not active enough, were not patrolling enough or were not present at the site when the client visited.
The Guard Scan system revolutionizes the relationship between Security Company and security guards and between client and Security Company. The Guard Scan system essentially consists of two parts. A wand that is about the size of a small flashlight and could be thought of as a bar scanner with a memory chip and magnetic strips that can easily be attached to any surface. The magnetic strips contain numbered barcodes. The magnetic strips should be attached to sensitive spots of the property the security guard is patrolling. A management program, which is downloadable into an excel sheet will enable the security company to label each magnetic strip according to the location it is attached to. As a security guard is conducting his patrol he will swipe the magnetic strips with the wand. That will create a time print, which means once the information is downloaded via a USB cable from the wand to a computer, a report is created that will show at what time the security guard was at what location.
A security company that employs the system correctly should provide a laptop to its supervisors, who should conduct frequent and random visits to the site. They should download the data into an excel sheet and they will be able to see at what time the security officer patrolled what part of the property. The result is that security guards have to follow he security plan in terms of how many patrols to conduct at what parts of the property. In addition the saved reports can be provided to clients in case they want to know about the security guard’s activity level.
The Guard Scan system ensures that security officers are doing their job of creating visibility by frequently patrolling the site. It helps security companies supervising their employees and client’s will e assured that they get the service they are paying for. All in all the Guard Scan system has revolutionized the security guards industry and created visible accountability for security guards, supervisors and security companies.
Charles Willis is a security consultant for a security company in Los Angeles frequently training and coaching Los Angeles Security Guards and Orange County Security Guards. He has provided security consultations to numerous Fortune 500 companies and smaller businesses. He is recognized as one of the specialists in the security consultation field.