We asked the president of the company, which is a key player in Poland in the security, cleaning, property management and monitoring market, how much the development of technology is changing this industry.
— Technology is, in fact, an integral part of everyday life in the security sector. Currently, the leading trend is AI-based technologies. We already have intelligent monitoring systems available on the market that can be programmed to detect, for example, specific objects. Functions such as facial recognition, predictive analytics and biometric recognition are just the tip of the possibilities of artificial intelligence in the security industry, he says.
– Images from cameras are actually an interactive field for the algorithm, and artificial intelligence systems can be compared to intelligent motion sensors trained to detect specific objects or threats – adds Sylwia Müller.
The algorithm will detect the lack of a helmet
— For example, technology can support construction site safety and compliance with health and safety regulations. Monitoring with an AI algorithm is able to detect whether workers on the construction site are equipped with all direct protective equipment. Therefore, it will recognize, for example, the lack of a helmet or work clothes. The combination of, for example, thermal imaging cameras with AI algorithms can be used to detect fires, but also to detect situations in which people staying on the construction site violate the smoking ban in a no-smoking zone, our interlocutor points out.
— Drones are becoming more and more common among the technological tools used by security companies. Human-controlled, they provide the possibility of real-time aerial observation, detecting and tracking intruders, collecting key information, e.g. regarding movement in the monitored facility, investigating incidents and assessing potential threats, he also says.
— Of course, the use of new technologies in security involves significant changes in the entire sector. One of the key issues is the evolution of the role of the security officer himself. However, we are not talking about replacing people with machines, but about the transfer of competences and creating synergy between humans and technology. I don't believe that robots will completely take over the role of security guards. Our industry is based on trust, customer contact and the ability to make decisions in dynamic, unpredictable situations, which is the domain of humans, he says.
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We ask whether the technological revolution is changing the requirements for industry employees. — Just a few years ago, the key factors were: physical fitness, stress resistance, perceptiveness and the ability to quickly assess the situation. Today, we are looking for employees who also demonstrate digital competences – they can operate advanced systems, have knowledge in the field of automation and robotics, programming, electronics, IT and ICT networks – says the head of Seris Konsalnet.
— A robot or drone is great for repetitive, dangerous or tedious tasks. However, the security guard remains key in interventions, in contact with people, in crisis situations requiring empathy, negotiation and quick response. Thanks to technology, a security employee becomes more of a “security operator” and manages it. We are talking about a change in competences – from physical strength to technical and interpersonal skills – he points out.
Security still suffers from a shortage of workers
Sylwia Müller also admits that despite the technological revolution, the industry still lacks people.
— The demand for employees is high, and the lack of labor is one of the biggest challenges of the industry. Many people still perceive this profession through the prism of stereotypes, which is very unfair, because it is a job that requires specific competences, responsibility and professionalism, but also offers great opportunities for development, he says.
The president also does not hide the fact that the industry will experience another increase in the minimum wage.
— Every increase in the minimum wage has a direct and significant impact on our business. Any increase requires a review of the entire pay structure, a revision of the pay strategy and an analysis of the cost management approach, he says.
Sylwia Müller does not hide the fact that she has become a CEO in an industry that until recently was dominated by men. However, much is changing.
— The number of women in the security industry is actually systematically increasing. They are increasingly choosing career paths in physical protection and intervention groups, breaking stereotypes and showing that competences, not gender, determine effectiveness in this profession. The report of the Polish Association of Security Employers shows that in almost half of the companies, women constitute from 20 to 30 percent. physical security workers – he says.
The rest of the article is below the video
— Change is visible on many levels – I am a great example of it myself. So far, the security industry has been associated as a typically male sector, and that is partly what it was, because security companies have always been headed by men. As the first woman appointed to the position of president of a company from the security sector, I broke the stereotype of a typically “male world”. I am not the only one who shows that there is not, and certainly should not be, such a thing as a “male” and “female” industry, and that both sexes can find their place in various branches of business. Year by year, the number of women on the management board of Seris Konsalnet has increased and now they occupy 30%. positions at this level. In 2024, 44 percent employees in senior managerial positions at Seris Konsalnet were women, he also points out.
— Soft skills are becoming more and more important. The ability to communicate, manage emotions, cooperate in a team, as well as multitasking and high resistance to stress, translate into effective operational activities. Women have natural predispositions in these areas, which makes them not only great specialists, but also leaders, she emphasizes.
We also asked the head of Sferis Konsalnet about ESG reporting – this requirement was recently postponed by two years.
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— EU decision to temporarily suspend the reporting obligation in accordance with the CSRD Directive – the so-called “stop the clock”, although seemingly exempting companies from the reporting obligation, in practice changes little. The “ESG machine” has already started, and for many enterprises, especially those from the second and third wave, it is a process of no return, he says.
— Listed companies and financial institutions are still obliged to report and require large amounts of data from companies operating in their supply chain, including us. We are therefore dealing with a situation in which, from a formal point of view, companies from the second and third phases do not have to report in accordance with the CSRD guidelines, but from a practical point of view, they will still be obliged to provide ESG data. This naturally leads to cost pressure. Many companies have already incurred reporting costs such as implementation, data collection and analysis, specific procedures introduced to the business model, or changes in products – and will continue to incur them. These companies can't just stop this process, he says.
— However, ESG is not only a result of regulation. For us, it is one of the elements of our business strategy that builds trust and competitiveness on the market. Transparency in the ESG area has a direct impact on credibility and perception, for example, by the financial market. Banks and financial institutions increasingly make lending conditions dependent on maturity in sustainable development issues. This is an opportunity to obtain better financing conditions and attract investors. ESG reporting also drives process optimization, he points out.
Author: Mateusz Madejski, journalist of Business Insider Polska
