Technology

While unanticipated changes caused by COVID affected the supply and demand of computer chips in 2020, we are still seeing these effects today.

The hackers infiltrated systems in the private and public sectors by adding malware to a legitimate software update from SolarWinds.

The breach of the Capitol has highlighted how much influence social media like Twitter and Facebook have on real-world events.

Social media has helped people learn more about current events, but it is not a traditional news source and shouldn’t be treated as such.

Civil unrest, such as riots and looting where destruction of property results, impacts retailers of all sizes. Some more than others.

Cyber crime has always been an issue, but recently bad actors have been taking advantage of both individuals and businesses during this vulnerable time.

Social media can be used as a tool for open-source intelligence, commonly referred to as OSINT, as an effective method of data collection for retailers.

OSINT existed before social media did, and a vast trove of publicly available information still exists beyond social media. We all know the information is out there, but few of us have the expertise, time, or patience to ferret out the parts we need. That’s where OSINT tools come in.

Technology is not here to eliminate us; it’s here to make our jobs and lives easier. Retail will continue to evolve with technology. As retailers, our responsibility is to focus our efforts on improving the customer experience using the new tools at our disposal.

Though retail loss prevention has changed a lot in recent years, it is important to remember the basics of physical security, and that starts with maintaining good physical security hygiene. If you work with your LP professionals to create a smart physical security strategy, you can stretch your LP budget even further than you might originally think.