Watchdog to help SMEs cut on shrinkage

PLDT SME Nation recently launched a video monitoring solution dubbed as the Watchdog to help small and medium entrepreneurs improve the productivity of a business operation through preventing shrinkage in the workplace.

Through utilizing the latest surveillance technology, the watchdog aims to strike out shrinkage in a business operation so profits will increase, explained Christian Lim, PLDT product manager for Watchdog during its launching at the Gustavian.

“In today’s trying times, there is all the more need for a watchdog that can keep an eye of the business. This new product takes surveillance to a higher level,” he said.

One of the unique features of the product is its motion detection function which has the ability to catch culprits in action and it alarms the owners of the establishments if there are movements and these are automatically saved which can become hard evidences for theft cases.

The images can be accessed through a 3G phone or via internet so that businessmen can monitor their establishments even when they are outside, said Lim.

He said that shrinkage is one of the reasons why businesses loss money, profits and increase cost and this takes the form of theft, from employees and even suppliers.

In his presentation, Lim said that shrinkage is among the main problems of SME retailers even abroad such as in UK where losses reached to about four billion Euros that accounts to around 20 percent to 50 percent of their profits.

Even in the US, shrinkage has also been a problem for retailers and around 75 percent of these thefts are unnoticed and the loss accounts for 50 billion.

 But here in the Philippines, the level loss due to shrinkage is not yet determined but SMEs are already aware of it as they have realized that it has grave impacts to their business, said Lim.

PLDT Watcher provides end-to-end solutions as it includes IP cameras or monitoring software, installation and tech support for P2, 000 per month of subscription.

Lim said that Watcher can help SMEs save money on loss prevention, gather indisputable evidence as well as help improve the bottom-line of the business.

PLDT VP and Head for SME Group Katrina C. Luna-Abelarde said that after Manila and Cebu, they are looking at launching the product in other key cities in the country. —Rhia de Pablo