8 Tips To Maintain Robust Security Guard Client Relationships

Client relations like other relationships require time and effort to improve and maintain their quality. All they want today is to be treated like people and not numbers. The focus has, therefore, drastically shifted to client services and client relationships over time. This, in turn, has increased the likelihood of repeat business and referrals, which can set your security guard company apart and up for long-lasting success. However, in today’s fast-paced technological age, it can be easy to forget what truly drives one’s business towards success.

To build a steady business that strengthens over the years, create a solid foundation of clients who return by building strong client relationships. There are many ways to build a long-term security guard client relationship. Here’s where you need to start.

Get To Know Your Clients

Doing your research is key to understanding your industry, goals, preferred ways of getting tasks done to build a great client relationship. But that alone isn’t enough. Getting to know the clients strengthens the bond and makes working together using the guard and client access of the Security Guard App a smooth experience for everyone involved.

While many businesses look for shortcuts to success, hoping to achieve great success without doing much, the ones that survive in the long term have great relationships with their clients and are well aware of their changing needs from time to time.

Have A Bulletproof Plan

Every relationship takes work, whether it is with a client or anyone else. So, if you are not intentional about investing in your relationship right now, before you know it, days and weeks will fly by, and you’ll lose your clients.

In order to avoid such a scenario, take some time to write about how you would like to be followed up with as a client. Make notes of all the touchpoints in which your clients interact with your business and use that knowledge to build a few extra steps to help strengthen the relationship.

Work On Communication

Consistent and effective communication plays a crucial role in all relationships, particularly with clients. So when providing professional security guard services to them, it becomes absolutely necessary for leaving a good impression along with a positive experience. This is exactly what separates a good security guard company from its competitors offering similar services.

What also will make a difference is the technology being used to communicate on-site data with the clients in real-time. Security Guard App comes equipped with chat that not only allows supervisors to interact with security guards but also keeps the clients updated on the situation on-site if required in real-time.

Client Access

Ask For Regular Feedbacks

Did you know that clients often prefer making their purchase with brands and businesses which take the time to acknowledge their clients and which respond to their feedback? 

Such an active solicitation of client feedback is not only helpful to grow your security guard company but also improves the existing line of security guard services by several folds or ultimately comes up with a better one. Hence, make it a habit to ask continuously for customer feedback.

Address Negative Feedbacks

Receiving complaints about one’s security guard services may seem like the worst thing that could happen to a security guard company. Since they easily can tarnish your reputation in a jiffy, make sure that each component is handled immediately and in the best way possible. 

To ensure that, invest your time in creating internal policies the way your security guard company and your staff handle any dispute. By addressing client complaints appropriately, you can even turn a negative client expense into a positive one.

Boost Your Online Presence

Relations with clients, like any other relation, need to be nurtured constantly if you want them to grow. To do it, there is no better way today than to be available online to your client. 

A website can make a big difference and help you keep in touch with them. Just make sure your contact information is clearly visible on each page, and when a prospect calls or emails you, respond to them right away and resolve their concerns. 

Also, make sure you reach out to your clients via those channels which they have used to follow or subscribe to your security guard services for better impact.

Stay On-Trend

Easy access to the internet has made every client aware of the latest trends in every industry around the world and their surroundings. Thus, giving you more reasons than ever before to understand what’s happening not only in your industry but also your local community, how it affects you, and what you can do to capitalize on them. In the end, focus on providing value to the lives of your clients with the highest quality of services possible.

Cultivate Partnership

Many security guard companies are secretive about their security operations and often for a very good reason. However, for today’s clients, all they want is transparency. In order to achieve that, consider each client relationship as an ongoing collaborative, mutually beneficial partnership using the guard and client access of the Security Guard App. 

Offering insights into on-site activities will help you be more successful at building a sustainable relationship instead of simply doing the task at hand and moving on.

Stay tuned for tips like these! They will help you solidify your security guard client relationships and create a strong foundation that will help you and your security guard company grow to new levels.

Security Risks Your Business Site Faces During Its Off Hours

Does your business have enough security when it’s closed? After hours at your business, present a set of safety and security challenges. You have to successfully meet these challenges to keep your business safe. Read below to find out some of the most common concerns every business owner is worried about during closed hours.

After-hours workers at risk

Most companies have staff who sometimes need to work during the off-hours. Maybe it is the production team preparing for the holiday sale season or your accounting staff closing the books, or the management team brainstorming over some company challenge. Regardless of the reason to have after-hours workers, it is the company’s responsibility to keep them safe.

At after-hours, your employee’s way of using the site determines the best approach to security. You should also provide security patrols and helpful officers to have an eye on them. And control the access to the site to make sure the employees are safe from intruders.

Empty Buildings could become the target

When your building is empty, it could become the target of a variety of crimes. While some of these could be comparatively minor, others can cost your business a significant amount of money.

Knowing the risks your property could face is the first step toward its protection. If your business property is in a bad neighborhood, it may require a combination of security patrols, monitored cameras, and physical entry security. The security of the computer servers that contains sensitive data regarding clients should be upgraded. And a business with plenty of bare lands could add extra patrols to prevent trespassers.

Vendors may not be Diligent

Most businesses have third parties that stay on the job site at unusual times. Many businesses hire cleaning services to work when the place is free of employees. You may also have deliveries to receive in early mornings or weekends.

It is also very important to keep track of vendors who aren’t directly under your management. Because even a cleaner who forgets to lock a door could open up your building for thieves accidentally. One of the most useful and cost-effective ways to know what vendors are up to is the monitored cameras. You can provide added security by installing coded access control or live security guard patrol to check up on the site after the vendors left.

Fires and disasters could occur in off-hours

Even closed businesses aren’t immune to natural disasters. Inactive operations are also susceptible to things such as electric shorts, spontaneous combustion of chemicals, or broken water main. If these things happen after hours, the damage could be much worse than the office hours, as there will be no one to stop it promptly.

For common risks like flooding and fire, every business should make sure it has a good alarm and monitoring system in place. Cameras can be a decent alternative to having individuals on sites at all hours. And frequent patrol of trained professionals can help prevent many crises.

Steps to Become A Security Officer

For any company, security officers play a significant role. A human element is required for this position, which will keep this position relevant for years to come. This makes it a safe career choice. Plus, the course to become a security offer is simple. So, anyone with an interest in this job can pursue it. If you want to have a career in security, there are a few steps you need to follow. They are given below:

1: Graduate

You will have to be at least 18 years old in order to work as a security officer in the US. And at least 21 years old if your employer will provide you with weapons. Before hiring, most employers want at least a high school diploma, and for some high-risk facilities, you may also be required to have a bachelor’s degree. As part of your application, you may also need to pass a drug test as well as a background check. So, if you want to pursue a career in security, keep your record clean.

It would be better if you get a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in criminal justice or any other related field, which may give you the knowledge of the skills the employers will want. And if you have further education, you might get an edge over other applicants. However, it is less likely that you will need that much education to get the job you are looking for. Assess your choices and see what you should do to go forward.

2: Applying

There are many careers that require extensive training before you can even start working; the same goes for security work. However, as a security officer, your training will take place mostly after your position is stable. When you meet the qualification mentioned in the previous step, you can send in applications to those companies you want to work with. Thus, will begin your journey to building a career.

3: Training

After you have joined a security company, your training will begin. And your courses will be paid for by either the facility or the company that hires you. The finest companies will train you to complete the tasks most security officers need to complete, such as basic protection skills you will require on the field, writing reports of the activities, and dealing with public relations.

Before you can begin work, you will have to go through the training required by the state where you are going to work. Most states require you to complete a number of hours in training. Some also specify the types of classes you will have to go through. And after the initial phase, some state requires annual training. However, the company you work for should help you keep track of the standards you need t meet in your zone.

4: Dedicate yourself and progress

Once security officers have the training and gain experience, they can pursue a wide variety of fields. You can find security jobs that suit you whether you are an early bird or a night owl, or an introvert or an extrovert, or whether you like to move around or stay in one place.

As you acquire experience in the field, you may get a better position in a similar field, or you can advance into a role you want even more. Often, private investigators, personal guards as well as police officers’ benefit from earlier security job experience. So, if you want to be any of these in the near future, working in the security field could be a step in that path.

Top reasons why security guard is a great career

The security guard industry is in-demand than ever. Guards are an essential requirement across the country and around the world. Private security plays a vital role in protecting property as well as life.

A career in security can offer various attractive benefits, which could attract an aspiring guard. So, if you have been looking to learn the top reasons why security guard is a great career, read below to find out a few.

A Meaningful Job

The most important reason to consider a career as a security guard is probably that it is one of the meaningful jobs in the market today. There are only a few jobs that are more important than protecting human life and property. A security guard does these jobs every day. They work to provide protection to the public, schools, events, and other locations, which allow people to live their lives with peace of mind.

Little Education Is Required

Great aspects about becoming a security guard are the little education requirement and the low barrier of entry. For most people, this industry is easily accessible. And typically, there is no need for a college education to qualify. Most security guard training programs are accessible to anyone as long as they are at least 18 years old and have no criminal record. You can increase your rank along the way with your work and training, but the great thing about this job is it is easy to get started.

Good Stepping Stone For a Better Career

Being a security guard is an honorable job. While you may not consider it as your dream job, it can still be a decent starting point for you.

If you want to acquire a job in law enforcement, such as a police officer, a job in the security sector is an excellent opportunity to get training as well as valuable experience for the job you are aiming for.

Security work can also help you make some money and pay the bills while you work towards your goal. Plus, it is a relevant job to your future career.

Hours Are Consistent And Flexible

Generally, most security guards tend to get consistent hours, which is an advantage if you need to follow a set schedule. Typically, security is assigned in shifts, which offers you more flexibility and allows you to manage other aspects of your life, such as taking care of your home life.

It is very important to balance your personal and work life for a healthier lifestyle. And working as a security guard allows you to do so.

In addition, you can also choose whether you want to work full time, part-time, casual, shifts or weekends. This is another great aspect of the security industry. You can also do another job and be a security guard for part-time over weekends or nights and earn some additional cash.

High Demand

The security industry is expanding, and for good reasons. Working in the security industry can be a good way to ensure your job security. There is a high demand in the market for well-trained security guard services to keep people, their homes, and businesses safe.

Since there are so many things that require quality security services, security service also needs to employ a lot of individuals to provide their services. This means more job opportunities. Also, the high demand for good security implies sustainable employment, which means you can expect to have a good position once you are employed.

Decent Salary

With this continuously increasing cost of living, people look at the pay before deciding on a job. A security guard earns a decent salary. As a security guard, your salary will depend on a number of aspects, such as the company size you are working for, its location, how many years of experience you have, etc.

Hopefully, you will find enough reasons in this article to develop an interest in becoming a security guard.

Security Measures to Control Property Access As Your Business Grows

As your business grows, the security needs for the business grow as well. The crowd will get bigger, and eventually, more and more people will need to have access to your property. That is when you should instrument a better entry control system that can provide security at every level of the company.

Security guards can help keep your property safe, but if the security practices of your business start from the entry, they will be able to do their part more effectively. You need to implement a system that will grow with your business and won’t get in the way of your work. Here are some steps you can take to keep control of the entry as things change.

Upgrading to Codes

You may want to switch to a coded lock system from regular keys to further control on who has access to your property as your business grows. Key codes provide various advantages over traditional key locks, even if you implement them on certain entries.

The advantages of having upgraded to codes are:

  • You can change codes whenever you want, and it will also cost you much less than changing all the regular keys.
  • You can also design codes for a specific person. This will help you identify which person is using the doors and have a log of the activity.
  • Codes can enhance efficiency as they won’t get left at home, such as a key. And employees won’t have to find the key when they are rushing to get to work.

Using Restricted Keys

When you make keys for your business property, it is vital that you use key blanks that cannot be duplicated. A dishonest person can still copy a key even if the key is marked “Do Not Duplicate”. So, even if you are running a small business and have a few keys, the best solution is to use restricted keys. Only approved locksmiths who contract with the manufacturer can make these kinds of keys.

Implementing a Master Key System

A master key system means specific keys will unlock specific doors and a log of individuals who has those keys. This system allows you to give appropriate access and have better control, unlike having separate keys for every door or one key for all doors. Regarding the supervisors, you may want to grant them access to the offices and doors in their area and not the main entries. Management can have a key that opens all the doors in the facility.

Creating a Log

Once you start handing out multiple keys, you should start writing a log to keep track of them as who has which key and what it can access. A log should have the key number, the identity of the receiver, the date the key was handed out, as well as the date it was returned. This should have the record of both permanently and temporarily given keys.

A designated employee should be given the responsibility of keeping the key log, and he should keep track whenever any employee is terminated because it is very important to make sure the terminated employees have returned their keys promptly before leaving the company. In case you don’t get your keys back, consider changing the locks.

Regularly change the locks

Lastly, regardless of what system you are using to control access, you should change the locks and codes regularly. Many businesses usually tend to rekey every two or three years, but you should consider doing so more often.

There are a number of security breaching events that can take place. If there are any break-ins in the neighborhood or any attempt of a break-in at your property, you may want to change your locks. If you have a displeased employee or are having any domestic issues involving an employee, you should also change the locks as a precaution.

Your business will be protected from many threats if you take these steps to improve security. However, there is still no substitute for a skilled and experienced security guard. They are professionals and trained to recognize threats and de-escalate dangerous circumstances.

How Security Guard App Makes Transition to Online Reporting Easier?

A lot of small security guard companies and independent security supervisors are still dependent on the traditional ways to report crucial information from client sites. But efficiently managing the growing amount of paper documents with every security operation can easily become a headache. What you need is a powerful Security Guard App designed to take your security operations to the cloud.

With the Security Guard App, you can easily transition from a paper-based reporting system to online reporting and make the job of your security guards on client sites easier. Here’s how.

Easy-To-Use Interface

An easy-to-use interface plays a crucial role in the transition. And Security Guard App is built to ensure that the security guards can navigate through the app with little or no training to immediately start creating and sharing reports with information that matters for both the supervisors and clients on their apps respectively.

Create Custom Reports

A paper-based reporting system has its own set of drawbacks and the one most vital among them all is how it limits communication and collaboration. Whereas an online reporting solution as that Security Guard App allows creating custom reports with different criteria for different scenarios for security guards to work on effortlessly.

Attach Multimedia Files

The biggest benefit of using online reporting software is that your security guards can start attaching multimedia files every time they create a report. It can significantly help enhance the quality of information being provided to the clients in real-time. Thus, allowing them to make better decisions that paper-reports might not be able to help them do. 

Submit Multiple Reports

The traditional paper-based-reporting system does not offer security guards the flexibility to share multiple reports. With it, they often need to wait till the end of the shift to answer a standard set of questions, that could cause them to leave out crucial information. However, with the Security Guard App, they can share detailed multiple reports, that too live.

Share Passdown Logs

Security Guard App is designed to enable security guards to create passdown logs. These are generated to share vital information with security guards on sequential shifts to access work that is completed and to determine how to proceed. These online logs help not only improve communication between security guards but also their performance.

To know more about the Security Guard App & how it can help enhance your security operations, visit us at securityguard.app. Available on both App Store & Play Store, download it now to try it.

How To Keep Your Security Guards On Patrol Engaged For Better Productivity?

Lack of motivation is one of the main reasons why today most of the security guards are disengaged. Feeling bored, stressed, or burned out further adds to the pile of reasons that make the security guards on patrol less productive. Even though when they work diligently to protect people and property and are often first on the scene of an emergency, there’s always room for improvement and the way they are engaged for better productivity. 

Here are a few simple ways you can use. Let’s take a look at them.

Support Career Development

The top reason why security guards often leave their security guard company is because they do not offer career development. Therefore, take the initiative to identify different levels of technical skills & gaps in inexperience. Walk the security guards through how to use remote tools such as Security Guard App.

Improve Work Environment

If your security guards on patrol feel belittled or punished for making mistakes, then they are working in a very unhealthy environment. It results in disengagement and an unwillingness to be productive. Take a more kind & positive approach that can be constructive and insightful.

Encourage Teamwork

To successfully complete a security guard operation, it is essential for security guards on patrol to work as a team. To ensure that you need to make sure that you enforce a work-style that is interactive, allowing the security guards on patrol to work together. Where they can not only collaborate, ask for opinions but also seek out advice on best practices.

Enhance Supervision

The absence of supervision is likely to mean that the loopholes will be exploited, and the productivity of security guards on site will fall short. Security Guard App can help keep security guards on patrol in check. Supervisors with its help can find the live location of security guards on-site and receive live notifications of every activity conducted on-site.

Incorporate Technology

Make the job of the security guards on patrol easier. Incorporate Security Guard App and allows them to do more than just clock-in & out to improve the productivity on the client site. Using it, the security guards can share incident reports instantly, chat with other guards live, share passdowns, and do much more, to improve their productivity effortlessly.

Share Post Orders

Sharing post orders is one of the most effective ways to keep security guards on patrol engaged for boosting their productivity on-site. The clarity in post orders ensures there is no ambiguity regarding site tours and tasks are allocated as required. Security Guard App further enables the supervisors to update them in real-time if desired.

Motivate Your Guards

Your security guards should not only understand the scope of their work, but also your supervisors. That includes keeping the security guard motivated. Motivated employees can lead to increased productivity, allowing the company to achieve higher levels of output. Thus, in turn, enhancing client satisfaction significantly.

Keeping security guards on patrol engaged for better productivity isn’t a simple task. But with the right steps, it’s not that tough! For more information on such topics, subscribe to our blog.

Comprehensive Ways To Improve Security Patrol Services

Today clients look for security patrol services that can not only be customized to their security needs but also offer reliable services cost-effectively. And truth be told, no matter how outstanding security patrol services you might be delivering, there’s always scope for improvement. 

In case you aren’t sure where to begin with or if you are having trouble delivering security patrol services up to the high standard of the security guard industry, here’s a comprehensive list of ways to begin improving your services.

Hire Qualified Security Patrol Guards

In order to deliver outstanding security patrol services, begin with onboarding qualified security patrol guards on the Security Guard App. While doing so, do not just accept their words, remember to ask for copies of the certificate to be sure. Look into the kind of experience they already have in the industry.

Train Your Security Patrol Guards

One of the main reasons why your security patrol guards might not be able to deliver outstanding security patrol services is because of inadequate training. Therefore, invest in site-specific training or at least encouraging your security patrol guards to refresh what they had learned initially while obtaining the guard card.

Review Security Guard Supervision

Lack of supervision often eliminates the opportunity for security patrol guards to learn and better understand their duties. Lack of supervision also often leads to unacceptable security patrol service practices that significantly reduce the quality of services delivered to clients. Therefore, do not forget to review security guard supervision regularly.

Security Patrol Guards

Perform Regular Security Inspections

The security supervisors can stop by the client sites unannounced to find out how the security patrol guards are working. They can ask them questions about their duties to ensure they understand & perform their job as desired. If security patrol guards are equipped with a Security Guard App, their on-site movement can be easily tracked via GPS, further ensuring accountability.

Make Use Of The Security Guard App

Incorporating Security Guard App can make managing security patrol operations to the next level. Using its guard access, the security patrol guards can check-in on client sites, share reports, chat with supervisors, and do so much more. While the clients with the client access of the Security Guard App can access all the data shared by security patrol guards live.

Got more tips to improve security patrol services? Do comment below to let us know.

Areas That All Security Guards Need To Be Trained In

Once the mandatory security guard training is completed to obtain the guard card, it often takes a back seat for most security guards. However, if you are an ambitious security guard willing to grow your career in the security industry, security guards training in different areas is going to make all the difference. Here’s a brief list of training areas you can get started with.

Security Patrols

One of the main jobs security guards is to conduct security patrols at regular intervals. For that, they not only need to be well-trained but also well-versed in using the Security Guard App with guard access to conduct effective security patrols.

Security Guard App

Security Guard App is an intuitive patrol mobile app designed to make the job of the security guards easier. Using it, they can create & share reports, chat with other guards and supervisors in real-time, and do so much more.

Communication Skills

When working on a site, the security guards are not only required to communicate with clients but also with troublemakers. To smoothly carry out conversations & mediate any immediate threat, the security guards must have effective communication skills. 

De-Escalation Techniques

Situations with troublemakers on client sites can quickly escalate and pose threat to both life & property. Which is why it is crucial that the security guards possess the knowledge of de-escalation techniques to keep the damage to a minimum & avoid any casualties.

Security Reports

After conducting security patrols, writing security reports to keep supervisors as well as clients abreast of every minute detail is the next vital job of the security guards. They must be able to provide accurate information with details that match up to the industry standards.

Security guard training isn’t just limited to these areas if that’s what you are wondering. There are several other areas that require the security guard’s attention. For more information on them, stay tuned. 

Quick Guide For Security Guards To Survive Overnight Shifts

Night shifts aren’t for everyone as it can be stressful. Most supervisors will do their best to accommodate their security guards if they have significant problems with working the night shift. Despite that, what if you end up working a night shift? Well, in that case, it will take practice. The more you will work on it, the easier it will become surviving the night shift.

So here’s a quick guide, incorporating the best tips just for you to help yourself adapt to the night shift.

Hydrate Often

Sugary drinks can surely boost your energy levels for a brief moment but can quickly drain blood sugar causing fatigue. Which is why instead of depending on them, drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. So don’t forget to bring a water bottle to work.

Reduce Caffeine Intake

Consuming caffeine-rich drinks is one of the most preferred ways of security guards to stay active on a night shift. However, be aware of how much you consume it. It will initially allow you to stay alert, but excessive consumption late into the shift will affect your ability to sleep later.

Eat Healthily

Plan your meals ahead of time. Ensure you avoid having big fatty or spicy meals right before the night shift starts. They can often cause energy levels to drop. Instead, eat small snacks or food that will help you stay awake as well as keep your energy levels consistent.

Get Quality Sleep

Ideally, security guards should want to get 8 hours of quality sleep to stay fresh, alert, & functional. Therefore, ensure you create a favorable environment for sleeping. Set a sleeping goal. To maintain a normal level of sleep, keep track of when you fall asleep and when you wake up.

Stick To A Schedule

Working double or rotating shifts can disrupt your body schedule. Further confusing the body and not letting it know what to expect can take a toll on your health too. Therefore, make sure you stick to just the night shift to help your body adjust to the schedule.

Keep Moving

Security guards whether assigned to a stationary position or conduct regular foot patrols must find creative ways to keep moving. It is the key to getting through the night shift seamlessly. To keep the blood flowing you can stretch your body, roll your shoulders, or even walk around the building on breaks.

Use Security Guard App

Creating reports is an essential part of every security guard’s job & Security Guard App with its guard access is designed not only for that purpose but also for much more. Since the Security Guard App can be used to monitor your activities on-site live, you’ll need to stay accountable and motivated to stay awake & productive.

Take Regular Breaks

Taking regular breaks is one of the most effective ways to survive through a night shift. Not only will it help your body re-energize but also stay awake. This in turn will ensure you can concentrate fully on your patrol, improving your productivity & performance overall.

In addition to the mentioned tips, don’t be afraid to come up with your own tips and tricks to ensure you get through the night shift. For more information on this topic, stay tuned.