Description:
The Retail Cyclone is a confluence of internal and external factors impacting retailers today in a way never seen before. In the past, retailers have suffered from a number of factors impacting the bottom line, however today, immense pressure from the current retail landscape is forcing businesses to rethink their approach to defensibility and safety and security.
The pandemic, a weakened labor force, steep financial pressures on rising cost of goods, distribution and logistical challenges, rising fuel costs, organized retail crime rings, increased internal theft, active shooter incidents, front end technology leading to loss and a lack of prosecution of shoplifters and an attitude that retail theft is a victimless crime – all of these are key components of the current Retail Cyclone.
As a result, retail professionals need to fully leverage their video management system to mitigate these pressures by tapping into AI and facial recognition technology to quickly identify shoplifters, crime events, loitering and weapons. By leveraging video to create a centralized video management solution and employing video analytics to proactively identify events before they happen, retailers can gain precious moments to respond to many of these issues. Presentation attendees will hear from two former loss prevention executives from major retailers Walmart and The Home Depot on the ever-growing challenges faced on the job and how retailers can make the most of their VMS solution. Integrators will learn how to help their retail customers leverage their VMS solutions to the fullest.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the new security threats faced by retailers in today’s modern world.
- List the technologies available to help solve today’s retail security challenges.
- Demonstrate which technologies work best in retail environments based on the problem that retailers need to solve.
Keith Aubele
Keith is a retail industry veteran and has held executive leadership positions with two of the top retailers in the world. He led The Home Depot’s loss prevention division as a senior vice president and his team was responsible for bringing shrink down to the lowest in company history. While at the Home Depot, Keith was designated a high succession leadership candidate by the CEO. Prior to The Home Depot, Keith spent his career at Walmart where he was the Director of Loss Prevention. Other roles at Walmart included retail operations, and responsibility for the Supercenter Division. While at Walmart, Keith was placed on the fast-track program by CEO David Glass and was one of three executives selected to create, design and rollout the Neighborhood Market concept for Walmart.
Keith has the distinction of being personally mentored by Walmart founder Sam Walton, and The Home Depot’s founder, Bernie Marcus. He is a steering committee member of the ASIS Asset Protection Council, and the former Chairman. He is the founder, and former Chairman of the NW Arkansas ASIS Chapter. He holds a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) from ASIS International & Loss Prevention Professional (LPP) Certification from Missouri Southern State University. Keith has a BS in Criminology & AS in Law Enforcement from Missouri Southern, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Business from Troy University. Keith is a United States Air Force & Law Enforcement Veteran. He resides in Niantic Connecticut and serves on several non-profit boards.