Retailers lost more than $37 billion due to theft in 2005. This shrinkage, a combination of shoplifting, employee theft, vendor fraud, and administrative error now accounts for approximately 1.7% of total annual sales, and is up from the previous year.

Employee theft accounts for approximately 47% of all merchandise lost and thus continues to represent the principal culprit in retail shrinkage. Of growing concern, is the dramatic increase in the average dollar loss per incident reported by retailers during the last two years. This increase is thought by some to be the result of Organized Retail Theft (ORT), a scheme in which criminals work in groups of organized shoplifters.

As a result of these trends, more than 40% of chain retailers are turning to new generation loss prevention technologies as reliable methods for arresting the growth of theft, and to supplement technologies which have long been in use such as electronic article surveillance tags, and access control systems.

The Evolution of Video Surveillance Technologies
The video surveillance market has long been dominated by analog-based video capture, and tape recording of surveillance footage. These Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, today comprise in excess of 50% of the installed base of video surveillance systems. CCTV systems, however, are slow, labor intensive, have poor picture quality, and are not very reliable.

The advent of Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) made it feasible to convert analog video signals from security cameras into a digital format. The digital format was thus suitable for storage on a hard drive and made playback less laborious. Many enterprise customers installed DVRs and left existing CCTV systems infrastructures in place.

Today, these systems are halfway measures, however, and no less a technology dead-end than a traditional CCTV system. The stored physical image of digitized analog signals remain of inferior quality and none of the intelligence of an IP-based system can be brought to bear by virtue of digitization alone.

TIS brings mastery over the entire Technology Deployment Supply Chain to ensure meticulous planning, rapid, accurate, and cost-effective deployments nationwide. This expertise, in combination with TIS' understanding of the technical nuances inherent in IP-based video surveillance systems, ensures successful deployments regardless of scale or scope.

TIS' Supply Chain approach to video surveillance systems ensures flawless and rapid implementations allowing retailers to receive the benefits of these vital technologies faster.

Plan-TIS works with the customer as well as other technology supply chain partners to craft a master course of action to ensure the right combination of system components.

TIS assists in assessing infrastructure and platform requirements and provides analysis of industry or regulatory requirements. Site surveys can be conducted and the results used to refine the best possible security solutions, and equipment deployment locations.

TIS uses its proprietary suite of software tools, eDeploy™, to support planning as well as all other downstream supply chain activities.

Source-TIS helps to identify, select and source all necessary equipment and components in keeping with the agreed-upon customer objectives. At the customer's option, TIS can either lead negotiations with component OEM providers or source and finance the necessary equipment directly from manufacturers. Once procured, TIS receives, warehouses, and tracks the inventory throughout the entire deployment process.

Build-Key to TIS' mastery of technology supply chain logistics is its Staging and Configuration Center: a near-100,000 square foot facility that stands as the industry's showcase for high-volume technology preparation, assembly, and verification. TIS will prepare and test all hardware and software components as called for in the deployment schedule. From the Center, TIS is able to deliver perfectly-matched video surveillance systems for installation to hundreds or thousands of customer locations.

The capacity of the Center- equipped with unique toolsets, trained staff, and proprietary processes- allows TIS to scale and tailor its services to accommodate the most aggressive deployments. The result is a tighter, shorter, more accurate delivery process.

Deliver-TIS dispatches devices, materials, and tools on a just-in-time basis to ensure a prompt installation of security systems within agreed-upon SLAs. TIS manages the complete on-site scope of work, including preparation, work execution, and completion documentation. TIS inspects the quality of the installed systems before delivering the site for customer acceptance. TIS can also provide on-site user training as the systems are activated.

Service and Return-TIS can assume responsibility for service, repair, return, and disposal of all retired security and loss prevention equipment and components. TIS can refurbish and warehouse returned equipment for re-sale or the equipment can be disposed of according to government regulations and industry standards.

The TIS Call Center is capable of handling tier 1 technical issues and escalations, and can dispatch technicians to handle all equipment service and return requests. In addition, TIS can manage all hardware manufacturer warranty claims and issues.