Expert is one of the largest consumer electronic chains in the Nordic region. Expert has about 55 wholly-owned stores and around 100 standalone stores in Norway. Expert is represented in the whole of Norway and the store size varies from smaller stores to superstores.
Expert’s Security Manager, Georg Vedeler, has overall security responsibility for all of the wholly-owned Expert stores. In the case of the standalone stores, Georg has an advisory role. The store managers are responsible for the stores day-to-day security.
Security requirements at consumer electronics chains are steadily increasing. The numbers of burglaries are increasing, while at the same time the product offering at the chains is increasing and changing. In order to take out insurance today, Expert must show both a security plan and documented regular cooperation with a security supplier.
"Now, we have the same security solutions in all our stores. This means that if personnel change store, they encounter the same security system."
- Georg Vedeler, Expert
Prior to the commencement of the cooperation with Niscayah, Expert’s stores had different security products and solutions. Expert wanted to have a uniform system of security products in all of its wholly-owned stores in order to comply with the insurance company’s requirements as well as to gain a clear overview.
Expert and Niscayah evaluated and developed the existing security plan together and based on this, Niscayah delivered a customized solution. The solution comprised, among other things, access control, intrusion alarm, video surveillance and product protection. The product protection consisting of product alarm, point protection and security boxes for DVD’s and games has resulted in a decrease in the amount of theft in the stores.
Previously, products such as mobile phones and Mp3 players were locked in a glass case. It meant that the customer was obliged to contact a salesperson in order to look at the products. By means of point protection, the customers can examine the products, while at the same time, the products are protected. The point protection has resulted in increased sales for Expert.
In order to reduce shrinkage and make it more difficult for intruders at night, Expert keeps the attractive products in a special room with access control and video surveillance. Niscayah has also installed smoke generators in the rooms that are triggered in the event of a break-in.
In addition to the technical systems, Niscayah supplies services in the form of alarm monitoring, customer service and information services. Customer service can involve connection and disconnection of alarms or to quickly change the access rights of passes. The information services provide Expert with an overview and control over alarms, entries and departures, service efforts and turn-outs. This takes place in real-time and with access through a web portal.
Niscayah conducts a physical inspection of the solutions on a yearly basis. Since the security risks constantly changes, a continuous review is needed of how the solutions are positioned. When an intrusion has occurred, Expert evaluates together with Niscayah if something in the solution must be changed in order to prevent a new intrusion.
In the consumer electronics sector, new products are continually being developed which means, among other things, that the point security must be reviewed, so that new products also are protected. During 2007, Niscayah will also provide remote service for product protection.
Expert’s security manager, Georg Vedeler: ”Since we have a contact person in Niscayah who is responsible for us, we know who we should contact if there is a problem. If something does not function, Niscayah follows it up in a first-rate manner”.