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Retailers expanding physical security beyond loss prevention

Genetec released retail-specific findings from its 2026 State of Physical Security Report. Based on responses from retail professionals worldwide, the research shows retailers increasingly view physical security as a business function that supports operations, employee safety, and modernisation efforts—not solely loss prevention.

While retailers continue to manage everyday security challenges across stores, many are expanding how they use physical security data to improve decision-making, increase operational efficiency, and get more value from existing technology investments.

Beyond loss prevention

Retailers are increasingly looking beyond traditional loss prevention metrics and using physical security data to improve broader business outcomes. More than 60% of retailers identified improving operational efficiency within the security department as a primary objective for security data, while an equal percentage said improving safety and security was a top priority. More than half (55%) cited compliance, and nearly half (48%) said they are using security data to improve customer and employee experience.

Ageing infrastructure is driving modernisation

Despite growing interest in AI and analytics, many retailers remain focused on modernising ageing environments before expanding their technology footprint. The report found ageing physical security infrastructure (40%), training and upskilling staff (38%), attracting and hiring talent (37%), and ageing IT infrastructure (33%) ranked among retailers' biggest operational challenges. These challenges are influencing how retailers approach modernisation.

Rather than replacing entire systems, retailers are pursuing measured modernisation strategies. Looking ahead, 54% of retailers plan to leverage existing technology to address new challenges, 51% intend to use AI to streamline security processes, and 48% plan to evaluate new security systems for specific use cases.

“Physical security is becoming a strategic business asset for retailers, extending well beyond traditional loss prevention,” said Firas Jadalla, regional director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Genetec. “The retailers that will see the greatest return on their security investments are those that treat modernisation as an ongoing strategy rather than a one-time project. By building on existing infrastructure, while introducing new capabilities, they can adapt to changing business needs without sacrificing the value of past investments.”

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