Why concealed EAS might be suitable for your store
For the retailer who’s looking to protect their store while embracing seamless design and an appealing fit-out, concealed electronic article surveillance (EAS) may be the system of choice.
Installed within the door frame, under the entry floor, or overhead, concealed EAS offers a range of benefits, but some options suit some retailers better than others.
If you’re considering concealed EAS, here’s what you need to know…
What is concealed EAS?
Unlike traditional EAS shop detection systems which see the security antenna positioned openly in the entryway, concealed EAS is a lot more discreet, blending into the store fit-out.
With concealed EAS, the antenna which communicates with product tags and labels is concealed within the door frame of the store entry, under its floor or even overhead and there is a range of common options available.
Concealed EAS options
Designed to suit a range of different retail environments, Vitag offers three different types of concealed EAS systems, each with their own unique features.
Here’s an insight into what’s available and the retailers each system suits.
FloorGuard
FloorGuard sees the antennas that monitor a retail outlet installed beneath the floor of the entryway. This AM (58Khz) system is compatible with other AM Systems so tags can be interchangeable, and features modules from 1.0m to 3.6m wide that together can protect a wide store entrance. Multiple modules can be combined to cover even wider doorways.
As FloorGuard is ‘buried’ beneath the floor it requires a cavity under the floor surface but can operate under tiles, floorboards or concrete. Detection height depends on the selected Tags being used, typically ranging between 800mm and 1.2mm high.
Who FloorGuard suits?
- Retailers with wide entryways
- New-build sites with enough access to create a cavity beneath the entrance floor
- Retailers who use Hard Tags – not suitable for disposable security labels
Nedap iD top
iDTop is a state-of-the art system which sees the antenna mounted on a wall, suspended overhead, or fixed to the ceiling or entryway of a retail outlet. iDTop uses UHF RFID Frequencies to detect tags or labels – all of which are encoded with unique identification codes. These frequencies are different from traditional systems helping ID Top systems to avoid experiencing False Alarms from external tags entering the store.
The system features directional detection with dynamic beam steering that tells if a tag is entering or leaving a store and offers Advanced Tag Filtering (ATF) to ensure it reads only what needs to be read and ignores stray tags in the detection zone.
A major benefit of iDTop is that it can also be concealed within a false ceiling or made to appear as part of the outlet’s fit out.
Additionally, iDTop is RFID ready straight out of the box, allowing retailers to embrace the latest technological advancement in security and stock counting by adding RFID Readers and software when they wish.
Who Nedap iDTop Suits?
- Retailers with wide entryways
- Retailers looking to be RFID ready
- Retailers who do not wish to make major changes to their store layout
SkyGuard
SkyGuard offers a truly seamless look and is installed within the store’s entryway, with the antennas positioned in the door frame, floor and ceiling.
The system is suited to doorways with a maximum width of 2.2m and a maximum height of 3m, and access panels will be required in the doorframe, while a 25mm conduit is also installed under the floor.
This makes SkyGuard a system often used by high-end apparel retailers and boutiques.
Who SkyGuard suits?
- Retailers with narrower entryways (under 2.2m)
- New-build sites with enough access to run the loop cable beneath the entrance floor
- Retailers who use Hard Tags – not suitable for disposable security labels
What you need to consider
Concealed EAS systems are becoming increasingly popular in retail, allowing stores to offer a welcoming ambience and streamlined entryway that reveals the beauty of the fit-out rather than a focus on store security.
However, some retailers may instead wish to embrace the visible look of traditional security antenna and pedestals as a strong visual deterrent to potential shoplifters or for the benefits of integrated Customer Counting systems.
Meanwhile, the concealed system that a retailer opts for will need to be based on factors like:
- Entryway width
- Underfloor access for the conduits of floor antenna in the SkyGuard and FloorGuard systems
- Space for access in the doorframes if using SkyGuard
- Doorway height
- Requirement for Security Labels or small tags – here pedestals offer superior detection.