SCRS Conference Day 2 Session #2
Technology Framework For Secure Warehouses And Logistics Value Chain
By Kunal Bhogal, Chief Design Officer of IIRIS
“Technology, Intelligence, people, and processes are the cornerstones of our modern-day operations. We have a lot of technology, including security, safety, and warehouse solutions.” Mr. Kunal Bhogal said. He continued to explain about intelligence – gathering and understanding the data, and subsequently transforming it into valuable knowledge. On the same equilibrium, people and processes are other key aspects not to be neglected. Success relies on the company workforce’s strength and focus and the operational processes’ robustness. Recognizing the value of adopting suitable technologies that align with our asset security needs is important. From implementing camera technology to adopting security strategies, no single device can cater to all requirements.
Device Communication & Careful Positioning
“Facilities dictate that we need very high throughput, entrance, management, and relatively shorter time, so you have those devices available today. A lot of access control has moved away from traditional cards and you now have credentials to move to a smart device like a smartphone, or better still, move to facial recognition, which works on a very high authentication rate”, Kunal said.
He pointed out that effective communication between various devices is a significant challenge in today’s industry, especially when dealing with large assets. Therefore, analog may present an important, cost-saving solution, particularly in extensive projects. He also recognizes the importance of embracing wireless technologies such as 4G and the upcoming 5G. These advancements are particularly valuable in areas with weaker mobile network coverage, enabling improved remote access efficiency. Additionally, the positioning of devices requires careful consideration, with extensive volumetric studies conducted to ensure optimal placement and maximize their effectiveness.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Vs “Artificial General Intelligence”
“There are all kinds of intelligence. There is generative, and there is predictable analytics”, Kunal said. Systems that possess object-specific intelligence relies heavily on machine learning and machine vision. This intelligence is often data-driven, with extensive analysis occurring at the backend. However, it is important to consider how intelligently the system is being designed in order to evaluate the actions and commands in place of humans autonomously. This is where the careful adoption and balance of AI and Artificial General Intelligence come into play.
In this aspect, Kunal highlighted that “convergence is the key as data is everywhere and we have data running in various volumes and various types of footprints.” The challenge lies in extracting meaningful knowledge from the available data. This is where the convergence of technology comes into play, bringing all data footprint into the corporate security system at the central headquarters as an integrated command and control center. Acting as the “mothership,” this central system oversees and drives all operations on the ground. It correlates events and alerts from various sources and takes appropriate actions based on the information gathered.
Situational awareness is another critical factor that contributes to the smooth operation of the system. It encompasses inputs from various sources, such as social media platforms or news and weather feeds that have the potential to impact or disrupt business operations. By considering and integrating these external factors, the system ensures that it remains adaptive and prepared for any potential challenges that may arise.
Reducing Response Time & Improve Incident Escalation
After technology adoption and meaningful derivation of data, organizations need to escalate this convergent intelligence with supporting data, pictures and videos to the right department and focus largely on improving operational functions. “Data insights can help to reduce response time from minutes to mere seconds and improve your incident escalation up to twenty times faster”, Kunal shared his experience.
“How we monitor is also how we respond and how we audit everything. Everything that the system throws at you is quantifiable,” Kunal said. Whether conducting periodic audits or performing facility system health checks, these systems enable companies to maintain control and ensure ongoing operational efficiency. Companies can proactively identify potential issues and take immediate remedial actions by implementing these measures. This allows companies to stay in the green, ensuring smooth operations and promptly addressing any indicators that may veer off course. The ability to promptly react and take decisive actions is facilitated by the system’s capabilities, allowing companies to maintain a high level of control and keep operations running smoothly.
Busting the Cost Myth of Technology Adoption
Kunal pointed out that a good design has the potential to significantly reduce costs for an organization, as there are no universally applicable systems that can be deployed everywhere. The localization of technology becomes a very important factor in making the design sustainable. You can have a corporate security standard, but it might not allow you to support these systems locally in your country. So, it is always good to have something locally available that can be very well supported”, Kunal added.
“The primary focus is prioritizing business objectives and mitigating risks. By implementing a standardized design, not only can the organization reduce maintenance costs, but it can also minimize pilferage costs. It is estimated that every project in this world had anything between 3-4% added pilferage cost. Implementing a well-thought-out design from the start of the construction phase can lead to substantial cost savings for the company as the project progresses”, he explained.
Adoption of Technology Require Agile Leadership
In conclusion, technology, with the advent of AI, has allowed for the transformation of vast amounts of data into valuable knowledge, making organizations more intelligent. However, it is important to recognize that AI’s effectiveness relies on the people utilizing it. While training AI models to serve our needs, it is imperative to provide them with the right kind of data input. By ensuring the accuracy and relevance of the data we feed into AI systems, we can optimize their performance and unleash their full potential. “Adoption of technology, a good design and AI require very agile leadership. The organization and department have to be aligned to adapt to change. A lot of these tools are commonly available and come at a fraction of the cost as compared to a decade ago”, Kunal concluded the keynote presentation.
About the Speaker
Mr. Kunal Bhogal Chief Design Officer, IIRIS
Mr. Kunal Bhogal is responsible for Digital and Design Services business at IIRIS. With over 23 years of experience in high technology environments, Kunal specializes in enterprise risk management and asset protection with a focus on technology based protective services, Cyber-Physical Security Design, Digital Transformation and Automation technologies. A qualified Industrial Security Management trainer & practitioner, and a software professional by education, Kunal advocates sustainable technologies and innovation strategies that help bring economic and operational efficiencies through robust design and engineering philosophy, value engineering, new gen solutions that promise lower cost of ownership while being highly scalable and sustainable.
Watch other SCRS Conference 2023 Keynotes and panel discussions here: Session Replays
