One of only six shopping centres in South Africa to implement the innovative solution by SBV Services, which reduces stockholding of cash and valuables on-site and ensures that money is moved an almost invisible way, Greenstone Mall is at the forefront of a new trend towards holding less cash on premises – and deploying fewer guards and guns on shopping centre floors.

As SBV extends the sophisticated SMCR system to more centres, taking-over the stockholding of valuables to remove the risk of being robbed from retailers’ shoulders, South Africans could see less armed security inside malls. This might seem implausible at a time when attacks on shopping malls are becoming more prevalent, and the sight of an armed guard in the aisles is commonplace.

“Currently most shopping centres in South Africa have a lot of armed guards on shopping floors. In more developed countries, the situation is quite different. There are less armed guards inside the centres, yet robberies aren’t as frequent as they are in South Africa. With SMCR, we could eventually see a welcome shift in line with international trends,” says Grant Dunnington, CEO of SBV Services.

“Once the SMCR system becomes standard, and criminals realise that the secure manner in which cash and valuables are moved at centres is making attacks more difficult, robberies will reduce. With SMCR, we are making cash and valuables inaccessible to criminals,” adds Dunnington.

The reward for consumers and retailers alike is the freedom to shop and do business securely and without fear.

Dunnington says that the SMCR system combines innovation with sensibility.

“Criminals are constantly evolving their modus operandi of attack. To mitigate security threats, security companies also have to constantly evolve their systems and measures to ensure that people and property are adequately protected.”

“We invest heavily in new product and systems development to remain at the cusp of new trends. We pride ourselves in our constant innovation and the robust agility of our systems. The systems and solutions combine innovation with sensibility. They make sense while offering peace of mind throughout out the entire value chain. Being innovative, we also ensure that the systems and solutions we put in place do just more than the job they are intended for. They have to make sense and give a peace of mind to our business’ entire value chain.”

Times when cash and valuables are being moved are when shop-owners and shoppers are most at risk. SBV’s SMCR system not only makes it virtually impossible for criminals to work-out how and when cash is being moved, but it also enables businesses and banks to minimise stockholding on-site in order to minimise losses should anything like a robbery happen. At the same time, they have the ability to easily access cash should they require more. According to the South African Council of Shopping Centres, South Africa is likely to have a total of 180 large, regional and super – regional malls by 2016. Add to that, the fact that demand for cash in South Africa has been growing at nearly 11% year-on-year since 2003, these two future events whilst economically advantageous, they do, on the other hand increase businesses’ vulnerability to risk. A risk that could be mitigated from the planning phases before a mall’s foundation is even laid.

Greenstone Mall has done this and this is likely to be the trend with South African centres going forward as centre owners and investors seek to add value by ensuring tenants are signing themselves into secure business environments.

For more information on SBV Services, phone 011 283 2000.