Fast food restaurants provide good food at a good price in a short period of time, the perfect meal for today’s busy people to get something to eat on the go. Unfortunately, they are also very susceptible to crimes such as theft and vandalism. Long hours with large numbers of customers coming and going in a short period of time and high employee turnover can create a potentially attractive environment for criminals. A network camera video surveillance system can greatly improve the security of a fast food restaurant.
The benefits of a video surveillance system
Many fast food restaurants these days employ video surveillance systems and for good reason. Keeping track of both customers and employees gives the restaurant a great overview of everything going on in the restaurant at any given time. The knowledge that customers are surveyed will also give criminals food for thought when considering committing a crime. In cases where a criminal act occurs, investigators can use video surveillance footage to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.
Video surveillance has other benefits as well. It can be used to monitor employees to ensure they are upholding proper business practices. It can also reduce workplace theft, which is unfortunately often prevalent in the fast food industry.
Video surveillance with network camera
The use of network cameras in the development of a video surveillance system can be very beneficial. They are small and unobtrusive, so as not to ruin the customers’ dining experience. This video surveillance system is also easy to install, reducing the initial work involved in implementation.
Thanks to the integrated web server of the network cameras, video footage can be transferred easily and immediately over a network: be it local or the Internet. This capability greatly enhances remote monitoring capabilities with little effort on your part. Any computer with network access can view the images, which means you can control your surveillance system whether you’re at the restaurant, at home, or even on the road.
Using improved event management software can also help a lot. A network camera video surveillance system can be designed to turn on or off based on video motion detection. It can be programmed to turn on lights, appliances, etc. on or off depending on the occurrence of specific events. Advanced video analytics software, such as object recognition, can make surveillance software aware of even minor changes in the environment that might otherwise go unnoticed, alerting you or the proper authorities.
Installation of a video surveillance system with a network camera
The first part of the installation of a video surveillance system is the choice of cameras. Even within the world of network cameras, there are many options to consider, depending on the specific needs of your restaurant. Fast food restaurants are generally quite small so you usually won’t need too much flexibility in your camera, individual still images will usually suffice.
Camera placement is incredibly important to any video surveillance system. The most important place for a fast food restaurant to have a video camera would be the cash register. This is where all transactions take place, making it the most likely place for any potential criminal activity to occur. A video camera placed at the entrance will also allow you to see everyone who enters and leaves the restaurant.
Two other places to put cameras are the dining room and the kitchen area. A camera in the dining room allows you to monitor activity there, in case something unexpected happens. A kitchen camera keeps staff under surveillance during their work, to ensure they are acting correctly and in accordance with your requirements.