Small Business CCTV - less cameras, but more visibility.
Overview
Forestway Pharmacy, located on Sydney’s northern beaches, is a community pharmacy offering a large range of products and services to local clientele. Typically, the products are small and easily transportable – ranging from cosmetics and vitamins to baby care.
Forestway Pharmacy had an existing CCTV system, comprising12 analogue cameras and a DVR (digital video recorder).
Recorded images were limited to the recording format 4CIF, which restricts the quality of playback video. Zooming in to view detail within the captured images resulted in a significant loss of image quality – an imperative when you are managing an inventory of small items.
The CCTV system had been installed under a rental agreement, and the lease on the equipment had expired. Store layout had changed after original installation, and the owners saw an opportunity to update their system.
Client Objectives
• Replace existing system with updated technology
• Own the equipment
• Maximum coverage inside the store
• Allow for system expansion, redesign and relocation
• Remote connectivity for peace of mind
Solution
SNP Security installed a CCTV system using award-winning Mobotix CCTV cameras. Six new high resolution IP cameras were installed, replacing the 16 low resolution analogue cameras.
The resolution of recorded image on the new CCTV cameras is 1.3 Megapixel, which is 3 times the quality of 4CIF on the previous system. Pharmacy owners are now able to drill into the recorded images to view the smallest detail - getting much better shop coverage with less cameras.
Should the pharmacy change the layout of the store in future, moving the cameras is simple due to the new networking technology. The system is easy to configure, maintain and expand if the future needs change. Most importantly, the CCTV system is easy to use for identification of incidents.
Outcome
The cost comparison to using the previous system is negligible, with the total cost equal to a 5 year lease agreement.
Plus the new system offers many additional benefits to the client. Forestway Pharmacy reports higher level of customer satisfaction - with fast responses following any complaints regarding incorrect change, products not placed into a bag. Using the till time log, Forestway can go straight to the correct in the CCTV system to view the footage - and with the high detail, can even see the change that is given. The system has also been very useful in checking how many boxes are delivered by couriers.
"In these cases, the customer insists they are right - and in some cases they are and we can correct our error" says Chris Lemon, Pharmacy Manager. "The bonus is, where we have given the correct change, we can show the customer and they are satisfied - as opposed to delaying till later in the day when the till is balanced when you will probably lose your customer anyway"
Forestway Pharmacy are able to view footage using remote connectivity via an iPhone, giving peace of mind and immediate checking in the result of an alarm event. The advanced features of the system include audio recording, email of alarms, events & system warnings.
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