HOW TO EVALUATE A SECURITY COMPANY
- August 10, 2018
- By secureguard
HOW TO EVALUATE A SECURITY COMPANY IN CALIFORNIA
Hiring Guard Services for your organization can get tough. Here are a couple of key pointers to note when hiring a security company that meets your needs.
Research, Research, & Research
Research before you call. This goes for researching security service companies as well as your own business. Thoroughly research what the needs of the organization are and how guard services can assist. You may want to collaborate with others in the office before researching Security Service Providers. Ask around your network, read reviews, make a call and ask as many questions as possible. Don’t assume anything, as every company is different.
Reputation
Ask around other local businesses who they would hire and who they would stay away from. Not every review is posted online. Having said that, DO read online reviews. Don’t just stick to client reviews look out for employee reviews. Sites such as Glassdoor will give you reviews posted by verified employees.
Reputation can also be assessed by the stability of the company and the size of their workforce. Ask how long the organization has been providing guard services in general as well as in your specific industry. Ask for industry-specific references. Again, don’t be afraid to ask these detailed questions, it will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.
Visit a client site
Visiting a client site is one of the best ways to determine a company’s reputation by looking for professionalism in the guard. Are the guards dressed professionally, are they speaking in a professional demeanor? Are their surroundings kept clean and professional? How did they approach you and what’s your impression? These are all questions to ask at a site visit before hiring a security provider.
Customer Service
Have you ever called somewhere and the person who answered was uninformed or just plain rude? Chances are if the customer service is bad, the guards are at the same level, if not worse. You want to hire a company you can trust to answer your questions in a timely manner, provide tactics and recommendations for the issues you may be facing and always be pleasant 100% of the time. If they are not making you a priority, they are not worth your time.
Customer service is not just saying the right thing at the right time. It is doing the right thing at the right time all the time! Look for companies that have after hour service centers or 24-hour communication centers.
Security Technology
We’re living in an evolving world and technology is a security firm’s best friend. It allows faster access to information, verification processes and so much more. Don’t be afraid to ask security providers how they are using technology tools to enhance safety and mitigate potential risks.
You get what you pay for
Cost is important but shouldn’t be the only consideration when selecting a provider. Although it may be tempting to accept the lowest bid, it may cost you a lot more in the long run. Low bids come with low paid guards or in other words, less experienced and undertrained. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.
Local VS National Chain
It is important to understand the importance and the differences between a locally owned firm and a national chain. Locally owned companies will understand the lying issues of the area, are more familiar with the region and population and can hire based on the needs of the surrounding areas. National chains cannot hire this level of expertise.
Industry Experience
Guard Services is a different ball game for every client and most notably for every industry. Make sure the company you are looking to hire has experience in your industry. Just because a guard is trained and certified does not mean he or she may able to do the job correctly. Save yourself a headache and ask for references based on your industry
Do the guards have performance reviews?
New contracts usually go through a “honeymoon” phase where a firm will send the best performers for the first couple of months and then you will notice the service level beginning to deteriorate because they replaced their best and the brightest so they would accommodate a newer contract. Make sure your guards are being reviewed by their management on a quarterly basis if not monthly. Also, ask how their guards are trained and updated with best practices. Industries change, technology changes and every guard needs to have the most updated information.
Security Firms are a complex network of service providers. All employees should work in sync, systems should be in place and plans for potential risks or emergencies should always be present and updated. Technology, best practice updating, customer service, industry experience, these all are integral parts of a security service provider. With a little research and homework, you can easily get the best service. We have done some work on your behalf and you’ll be sure to get all of this and more from Secure Guard Security Services at 1-888-908-7818.
