Security is not just about price, but trust as well
Security is not just about price, but trust as well
By Satyasuryawan
Contributor
Jakarta
Security is indeed costly. It is so expensive that many people
cannot afford "to buy" it. It is not that these people do not
have enough money but rather because many people display the
wrong attitude to security.
"Our people will not buy a security gadget until they really
experience a disturbing incident," said S. Raharja, president
director of PT Secom Indopratama. Our people liken security to a
fire, which may not break out more than once in a decade. "Public
awareness about security is still poor," he added. Besides, many
people believe that a security gadget is a luxury and is fit only
for businesses requiring a high level of security, such as banks.
Obviously, security companies must counter this misguided
attitude related to security matters. It is not surprising,
therefore, to see that Secom has only several hundred clients
even though it was set up in 1994. Most of these clients are
Japanese because Secom's principal is based in Japan and has
millions of clients. By comparison, local company PT Teknodev
Inti Utama, now in its 24th year, has only some 800 clients.
This erroneous attitude towards security matters is now being
slightly corrected following terrible incidents that have taken
place locally and globally. After the WTC twin towers were
destroyed on Sep. 11, 2002, by a suicidal act of terror using two
planes, the sales volume of security gadgets at home has showed a
sharp increase. Then, after the bomb blasts in Bali in October of
this year, metal detectors and CCTVs flooded the market, with
their quality varying from the lowest to the highest (branded).
Security gadget suppliers, such as PT Jaguarkindo Muliakencana,
can sell 5 to 10 US-made metal detectors a month with the price
ranging between Rp 2 million and Rp 3 million. Various brands and
types of CCTVs are also today easily found in the Mangga Dua
shopping area.
For companies selling security gadgets, these tragedies served
as a blessing in disguise. It is clear now that the security
business still has big potential. While earlier security
companies were eying only companies, they are now turning their
attention to the retail market and housing estates. "There are a
lot of posh houses here. The market potential is huge," said
director of Teknodev, Charles Aryopaty, whose clients are mostly
in the banking sector.
Very tough competition in the electronic security business has
been going on since last year, involving such electronic security
devices as alarm systems, CCTVs, metal detectors, walking thru or
access control. However, only a few companies specialize in this
business. Some other companies also provide security services
apart from selling security devices. In point of fact, the use of
a security device is virtually useless unless it courts a
response from the police. A very easy example is the fact that a
security officer on duty in the parking ground of Plaza Senayan
is nearly unperturbed by the shrieking siren of a sedan alarm.
It may be the case that the alarm system is giving only a
false alarm, which is not uncommon in any electronic security
system, whether in an automobile, in a shopping compound, in a
factory, in a warehouse or in a housing estate. Then, the
security authorities or the police are usually tardy in
responding to this alarm. This tardy response is attributable to
the low qualifications of security personnel in charge and
frequent false alarms. Clearly, this situation calls for the
integration of machinery and human beings.
Since 1999, Secom and Teknodev have officially provided 24-
hour security services. Following the outbreak of the 1998 May
riots, the government relaxed the regulations on security
companies and permitted the establishment of professional
security companies. Then a few foreign companies in this business
also started operating here. Hill & Associates and ADT Security
are two examples.
Just like Secom, Teknodev sells security devices and offers a
security system or 24-hour patrol. Under this system, a company
needs no longer think about security matters any more. It does
not need to hire its own security guards as it can outsource its
security system entirely from a professional security company.
Under this mechanism, all security systems and procedures will
be designed by the professional company concerned. This company
will decide the types and the number of the alarm systems needed.
They will decide where these alarm devices will be installed and
what procedure should be applied in case of a robbery so that
guests can come and go safely.
Secom even guarantees that the devices installed on their
clients' premises are 100 percent functional as these devices are
checked every two hours. The devices installed on a client's
premises will be connected directly to the monitoring center. If
the alarm is triggered, the alarm system will give a signal to
the head office. A few seconds later, the nearest patrol officers
will examine the situation at the client's premises. If
necessary, they will work together with the police. With this
service, a client get a sound sleep or travel comfortably. He
will just have to think about how to boost his business.
Of course, everything has a price. In this context, a company
does not need to have its own security guards. When a security
system relies solely on people, it has its own limitations as the
people concerned may not always be in top form, It must be borne
in mind that crime usually involves insiders and that these
insiders are often none other than the security officers
themselves. "Statistics show that 74 percent of criminal acts in
Indonesia involve insiders," said Raharja. If there is a company
in need of security personnel, these two security companies are
always ready to provide training or supply security personnel.
Insiders usually find it more difficult to persuade these
security people to collude with them.
For a company providing security services, this business is
better for its survival. If they only sell security devices,
their clients will return only in the next five to 10 years when
the devices are broken or obsolete.
Secom, which has on its payroll some 600 guards, offers its
services to houses at a rate of US$100-200 a month, depending on
how many alarm systems or gadgets are needed. Teknodev offers a
security package to housing estates at a cost of some Rp 2.5
million a month. They will collect Rp 150,000 to Rp 250,000 a
month for security patrol services, depending on the type of
security system chosen. With 200 guards in its employment,
Teknodev offers two security systems: a telephone line or a radio
frequency system. The latter system allows uninterrupted
communications while the telephone line system has its weakness
in that the contact will be disrupted when the telephone is out
of order or if the cable is severed.
If you need guards, Teknodev can provide these for you,
charging you between Rp 250,000 - Rp 500,000 a day per person.
Unlike what we usually imagine, these guards do not need to have
a large build. They are not fighters but they have been trained
to protect their clients and show them how to avoid danger or
misfortune. They have also been trained to read the local
situation so that they are fully aware which way is safe to lead
their client away. They are also required to learn who the client
will meet, what he looks like, including his character.
It is up to you which company or system you prefer. Regardless
of the price, security is strongly related to trust. Do you trust
the electronic gadget fixed in your house or do you doubt the
qualifications of the security personnel assigned to help you?
You must remember that a security company depends on its own
reputation because it is this very company that designs the
system and the procedures, fixes the security devices and masters
the technology when it provides security services for you.
This may be the price of a sense of security. The price really
depends on how big your trust is in the security system devices
chosen and the reputation of the company concerned.