Business’ that suffer low productivity growth experience stress, as real income stagnates. Customer dissatisfaction increases, and employee morale plummets.
Low productivity may be a symptom of low morale. It snow balls and contributes to a disengaged work force.
Low Productivity Around The World
In South Africa we have the lowest productivity growth rate among all emerging economies. Retail sales and Factory output are slumping.
Globally it is reported that 67% of employees are disengaged.
Is Productivity Growth Important?
Clearly increased productivity growth is required by all business’ – leading to increased real income. More income is available to be distributed to stake holders.
Does CCTV Contribute To productivity Growth
When discussing the role of Video Surveillance in productivity there is often a negative response. Many managers view cctv as a grudge spend.
CCTV has however been shown to have a related impact on productivity and the bottom line – when it is implemented in an open and ethical manner, and used correctly.
The Cost Of Low Productivity
At times I feel that managers just don’t appreciate the domino effect of low productivity, and the underlying issues it exposes. Have they really quantified the impact of low productivity on the bottom line.
Lets examine The idea that 67% of employees are disengaged. It has been shown that a disengaged employee costs a company 18% of their annual salary.
In a company with 1000 employees at average salary of R50000, the annual cost due to disengagement (a consequence of low productivity) is R6,3 Million per Annum.
Logically, many more strategies are required to improve productivity, than CCTV alone. Much can be achieved at the hiring stage, and during company communication as well as other initiatives.
The average CCTV system for a company of this size, may cost between 3-5% of the R6,3 Million. CCTV however provides returns in more areas than productivity alone.
CCTV systems can quickly recover the input costs and make an increasing contribution to productivity growth and efficiency.
The Application Of CCTV
Let’s look at a few ways in which CCTV can be deployed to address productivity and efficiency:
Managers cannot be in two places at once. CCTV allows managers to monitor employee productivity, in many more areas than where they may be physically present.
Managers can use CCTV to isolate Job Performance areas, where improvement is needed.
CCTV can be used to monitor health and safety processes – limiting losses and accidents from this risk.
Maintenance departments can use CCTV to monitor critical plant and machinery, responding to breakdowns, repairs and unsafe machinery quite efficiently.
With CCTV, the need for additional security personnel is reduced. This in itself contributes to improved employee morale.
Low Cost Application
Compare the cost of a CCTV system to it’s impact on the bottom line. Its contribution to improved productivity growth and efficiency – along with the other contributions to operational efficiency.
CCTV represents a relatively inexpensive solution to achieving some contribution to increased productivity growth.
Article by Brandon Joubert – Gensix Technology – Security Installers – Durban.
