EAS 6 GREAT BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE (EAS) SYSTEMS & TAGS Leave a comment

INTRODUCTION (EAS) :

Electronic article surveillance  (EAS) is a technological method for preventing petty crimes, shoplifting from retail stores or pilferage of books and libraries, or removal of tags of properties from office buildings. Special tags are fixed to merchandise or items the tags are removed after the products are purchased through the proper channels and deactivated by the clerk or sales representatives on duty when products are checked out at the exists of the sore or place of business. THEY CAN BE FOUND IN RETAIL STORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY: ShopRite, spa, hubmart e.t.c.

8.2MHz Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) System

A detection system sounds (E.A.S) an alarm alerting the security and business staff when it detects active tags. A spider wrap (a wired alarm clip) may be used instead of tags for high-valued merchandise. The surveillance tags were first invented by ARTHUR MINASY IN 1966 IN OHIO STATE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.

A spider wrap (a wired alarm clip)

THERE ARE SEVERAL MAJOR TYPES OF EAS

1. Electro-magnetic, also know as MAGNETOHARMONIC
2. Acousto-magnetic
3. Radiofrequency (RFID)
4. microwave
5. video surveillance system
6. concealed EAS systems.

SIDE NOTE: ADAPTIVE AND NON ADAPTIVE  SHOPLIFTER

EAS systems can provide a solid deterrent against casual theft. The occasional shoplifter, not being familiar with these systems and their mode of operation, will either get caught by them or preferably, will be dissuaded from attempting any theft in the first place.

Informed shoplifters are conscious of how tags can be removed or deactivated. A common method of defeating RF tags is the use of so-called booster bags. These are typically large paper bags that have been linked with multiple layers of aluminum foil to effectively shield the RF label from detection, much like a Faraday cage. A similar situation would be the loss of signal that a cell phone suffers inside an elevator: The electromagnetic, or radio, waves are effectively blocked, reducing the ability to send or receive information.

However, they may miss some tags or be unable to remove or deactivate all of them, especially if concealed or integrated tags are used. As a service to retailers, many manufacturers integrate security tags in the packaging of their products, or even inside the product itself, though this is rare and not especially desirable either for the retailer or the manufacturer. The practical totality of EAS labels is discarded with the product packaging. This is of particular application in everyday items that consumers might carry on their person to avoid the inconvenience of potentially live reactivated EAS tags when walking in and out of retail stores.

Hard tags, typically used for clothing or ink tags, known as benefit denial tags, may reduce the rate of tag manipulation. Also, shoplifters deactivating or detaching tags may be spotted by the shop staff.

Shoplifting tools are illegal in many jurisdictions, and can, in any case, serve as evidence against the perpetrators. Hence, informed shoplifters, although they decrease their risk of being caught by the EAS, expose themselves to much greater judicial risks if they get caught with tools, booster bags, or while trying to remove tags, as this shows intent to steal.

6 BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SYSTEM

1. Eliminates theft: The focal function of an EAS is to functionally detect and deter theft with an electronic article system. Being omnipresent in today’s world, the presence of one on a product will at least give a potential shoplifter an avenue to rethink his/her decision on stealing, the likely hood of the shoplifter to steal would be less to nothing. This technology first took off after pioneering research was conducted in 1993. Since its introduction, the demonstration has proven to be a great success, losses and theft are nearly non-existent in the case of the tagged items.
2. Staff benefits/safety: Anti-theft systems take the pressure off sales representatives/cashiers They no longer have the added responsibility of monitoring customers and preventing theft. Encounters with shoplifters reduce. Employees should focus on selling not protecting products. By doing this they also increase sales and the security system pays for itself. The deterrent effect of EAS systems will mean that the store will be less of a target for shoplifters, which takes much pressure off staff.
3. Encourages an open display of products: without EAS, high-value items, and easy re-sold items are a target for shoplifters. This means retailer stores must take measures to make them less accessible to shoplifters. This, in turn, makes them less accessible to customers. the prospect of theft has led many retailers to display certain items behind locked cases or closed shelves – a physical barrier that prevents the casual shopper from making an impulse purchase. Customers tend to be less aware of the merchandise on offer and displays are less provoking. Customers can be reluctant about asking for assistance when they are used to a self-service environment. The whole concept of retailing changed forever when the idea of displaying goods in the open, for customers to pick themselves, was hit upon. Sadly, By placing EAS tags on such items instead, a retailer can cater to its security and still leave them in the open for customers to browse.
4. Improves Customer Service: With rivalry being fairly high in the retail game, price reduction, variation, and promotions are routinely brought out in the competition to excel. Regularly, however, it’s the in-store experience that customer value – and extraordinary customer service is vital. Any empty shelves that are caused because of security issues, burglary, or helpless store profitability are the exemplification of helpless customer support. With EAS tags, the need of the store can change from continually guaranteeing they have rigid security to improving customer care; guaranteeing that shelves and racks are stocked and staff is around to answer inquiries from customers.
5. Easy Operation: The poetic factor of EAS tags is that they are easy to use but without the accompanying removal device, are difficult to remove. Tags are available in a range of types and sizes, suited to the different types of products that need to be protected – anything from electronics, clothing, alcohol, perfume, etc. Tags (or labels) take just a matter of seconds to attach and to deactivate – allowing staff to deal with the stocking and sales of products efficiently, which can only further help customer service.
6. Return on investment: This surveillance system’s lucrativeness speaks for itself. hey, have a long effective life. The loss prevention benefits keep paying back year after year. There is virtually no maintenance. Hard tags are reusable. The only ongoing costs are the purchase of self-adhesive labels and the labor costs of attaching tags. Typically, retailers report a 1% to 2% of turnover loss through theft. If you think about how much money it’ll save the business in preventing theft, then it is an investment truly worth making.