Security is not just about price, but trust as well<\/p>\n
By Satyasuryawan
\nContributor
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Security is indeed costly. It is so expensive that many people
\ncannot afford \"to buy\" it. It is not that these people do not
\nhave enough money but rather because many people display the
\nwrong attitude to security.<\/p>\n
\"Our people will not buy a security gadget until they really
\nexperience a disturbing incident,\" said S. Raharja, president
\ndirector of PT Secom Indopratama. Our people liken security to a
\nfire, which may not break out more than once in a decade. \"Public
\nawareness about security is still poor,\" he added. Besides, many
\npeople believe that a security gadget is a luxury and is fit only
\nfor businesses requiring a high level of security, such as banks.<\/p>\n
Obviously, security companies must counter this misguided
\nattitude related to security matters. It is not surprising,
\ntherefore, to see that Secom has only several hundred clients
\neven though it was set up in 1994. Most of these clients are
\nJapanese because Secom's principal is based in Japan and has
\nmillions of clients. By comparison, local company PT Teknodev
\nInti Utama, now in its 24th year, has only some 800 clients.<\/p>\n
This erroneous attitude towards security matters is now being
\nslightly corrected following terrible incidents that have taken
\nplace locally and globally. After the WTC twin towers were
\ndestroyed on Sep. 11, 2002, by a suicidal act of terror using two
\nplanes, the sales volume of security gadgets at home has showed a
\nsharp increase. Then, after the bomb blasts in Bali in October of
\nthis year, metal detectors and CCTVs flooded the market, with
\ntheir quality varying from the lowest to the highest (branded).
\nSecurity gadget suppliers, such as PT Jaguarkindo Muliakencana,
\ncan sell 5 to 10 US-made metal detectors a month with the price
\nranging between Rp 2 million and Rp 3 million. Various brands and
\ntypes of CCTVs are also today easily found in the Mangga Dua
\nshopping area.<\/p>\n
For companies selling security gadgets, these tragedies served
\nas a blessing in disguise. It is clear now that the security
\nbusiness still has big potential. While earlier security
\ncompanies were eying only companies, they are now turning their
\nattention to the retail market and housing estates. \"There are a
\nlot of posh houses here. The market potential is huge,\" said
\ndirector of Teknodev, Charles Aryopaty, whose clients are mostly
\nin the banking sector.<\/p>\n
Very tough competition in the electronic security business has
\nbeen going on since last year, involving such electronic security
\ndevices as alarm systems, CCTVs, metal detectors, walking thru or
\naccess control. However, only a few companies specialize in this
\nbusiness. Some other companies also provide security services
\napart from selling security devices. In point of fact, the use of
\na security device is virtually useless unless it courts a
\nresponse from the police. A very easy example is the fact that a
\nsecurity officer on duty in the parking ground of Plaza Senayan
\nis nearly unperturbed by the shrieking siren of a sedan alarm.<\/p>\n
It may be the case that the alarm system is giving only a
\nfalse alarm, which is not uncommon in any electronic security
\nsystem, whether in an automobile, in a shopping compound, in a
\nfactory, in a warehouse or in a housing estate. Then, the
\nsecurity authorities or the police are usually tardy in
\nresponding to this alarm. This tardy response is attributable to
\nthe low qualifications of security personnel in charge and
\nfrequent false alarms. Clearly, this situation calls for the
\nintegration of machinery and human beings.<\/p>\n
Since 1999, Secom and Teknodev have officially provided 24-
\nhour security services. Following the outbreak of the 1998 May
\nriots, the government relaxed the regulations on security
\ncompanies and permitted the establishment of professional
\nsecurity companies. Then a few foreign companies in this business
\nalso started operating here. Hill & Associates and ADT Security
\nare two examples.<\/p>\n
Just like Secom, Teknodev sells security devices and offers a
\nsecurity system or 24-hour patrol. Under this system, a company
\nneeds no longer think about security matters any more. It does
\nnot need to hire its own security guards as it can outsource its
\nsecurity system entirely from a professional security company.<\/p>\n
Under this mechanism, all security systems and procedures will
\nbe designed by the professional company concerned. This company
\nwill decide the types and the number of the alarm systems needed.
\nThey will decide where these alarm devices will be installed and
\nwhat procedure should be applied in case of a robbery so that
\nguests can come and go safely.<\/p>\n
Secom even guarantees that the devices installed on their
\nclients' premises are 100 percent functional as these devices are
\nchecked every two hours. The devices installed on a client's
\npremises will be connected directly to the monitoring center. If
\nthe alarm is triggered, the alarm system will give a signal to
\nthe head office. A few seconds later, the nearest patrol officers
\nwill examine the situation at the client's premises. If
\nnecessary, they will work together with the police. With this
\nservice, a client get a sound sleep or travel comfortably. He
\nwill just have to think about how to boost his business.<\/p>\n
Of course, everything has a price. In this context, a company
\ndoes not need to have its own security guards. When a security
\nsystem relies solely on people, it has its own limitations as the
\npeople concerned may not always be in top form, It must be borne
\nin mind that crime usually involves insiders and that these
\ninsiders are often none other than the security officers
\nthemselves. \"Statistics show that 74 percent of criminal acts in
\nIndonesia involve insiders,\" said Raharja. If there is a company
\nin need of security personnel, these two security companies are
\nalways ready to provide training or supply security personnel.
\nInsiders usually find it more difficult to persuade these
\nsecurity people to collude with them.<\/p>\n
For a company providing security services, this business is
\nbetter for its survival. If they only sell security devices,
\ntheir clients will return only in the next five to 10 years when
\nthe devices are broken or obsolete.<\/p>\n
Secom, which has on its payroll some 600 guards, offers its
\nservices to houses at a rate of US$100-200 a month, depending on
\nhow many alarm systems or gadgets are needed. Teknodev offers a
\nsecurity package to housing estates at a cost of some Rp 2.5
\nmillion a month. They will collect Rp 150,000 to Rp 250,000 a
\nmonth for security patrol services, depending on the type of
\nsecurity system chosen. With 200 guards in its employment,
\nTeknodev offers two security systems: a telephone line or a radio
\nfrequency system. The latter system allows uninterrupted
\ncommunications while the telephone line system has its weakness
\nin that the contact will be disrupted when the telephone is out
\nof order or if the cable is severed.<\/p>\n
If you need guards, Teknodev can provide these for you,
\ncharging you between Rp 250,000 - Rp 500,000 a day per person.
\nUnlike what we usually imagine, these guards do not need to have
\na large build. They are not fighters but they have been trained
\nto protect their clients and show them how to avoid danger or
\nmisfortune. They have also been trained to read the local
\nsituation so that they are fully aware which way is safe to lead
\ntheir client away. They are also required to learn who the client
\nwill meet, what he looks like, including his character.<\/p>\n
It is up to you which company or system you prefer. Regardless
\nof the price, security is strongly related to trust. Do you trust
\nthe electronic gadget fixed in your house or do you doubt the
\nqualifications of the security personnel assigned to help you?
\nYou must remember that a security company depends on its own
\nreputation because it is this very company that designs the
\nsystem and the procedures, fixes the security devices and masters
\nthe technology when it provides security services for you.<\/p>\n
This may be the price of a sense of security. The price really
\ndepends on how big your trust is in the security system devices
\nchosen and the reputation of the company concerned.<\/p>",
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