Argos appoints VSG for security systems

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Argos appoints VSG for security systems.

Security expert VSG Systems has been awarded a major contract to supply and maintain electronic security systems for all of the retail stores in the South East of England operated by Argos, the UKs best known and most successful multi-channel retailer. The contract covers the maintenance of existing CCTV, intruder alarm and smoke cloaking systems at the stores, as well as the installation of new equipment where required.

This new contract complements the contract already held by VSG for providing manned guarding and security services at all Argos distribution centres and retail outlets across the UK.

Because Argos deals in jewellery, consumer electronic goods and other high value items, it is a prime target for professional criminals, said Nick Reed, Managing Director of VSG Systems, which means that it needs to have robust and dependable security measures in place.

We were already providing Argos with such measures in terms of manned security, and discussions with the company established that our electronic security support services were an equally good fit for its requirements, especially as we have strong and demonstrable expertise with all of the very wide range of electronic security products that are used in the Argos stores.

Although it has only recently started providing electronic security services for Argos, VSG Systems is already achieving 100% on response-time targets. The company has provided Argos with a dedicated technical account manager and it is also carrying out pro-active reviews of security arrangements in each store with a view to identifying opportunities for further improvements in security and efficiency, and for additional cost savings.

One measure is already proving its worth VSG has a remote connection to every site so that, in the event of a problem, its engineering team can perform detailed pre-visit diagnostics. This not only allows them to identify the fault rapidly, but also ensures that when they go to the site they always have with them any spares that may be needed to effect a speedy repair.