MTI-Andrews Introduces Encrypted Key To Prevent Retail Theft
Giving retailers multiple levels of both convenience and security, MTI-Andrews, the award-winning provider of turnkey merchandising solutions and leading distributor and refurbisher of service components to the consumer electronics industry, has introduced a "SmartKey", a new, programmable, encrypted key and switch system that maximizes access to products while minimizing the risk of theft. SmartKey, being shown here at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, affords store employees the ability to disarm a merchandising display's security alarms for a designated period of time before the system automatically rearms itself. Additionally, the key can be programmed to only work for a specific period of time before having to be reactivated, making it impossible for keys to be copied and passed along to others. The system will be available in the second quarter of this year.
"Smart Key is one of the most intelligent, highly-customizable, forward looking products, which will revolutionize merchandising security," said Jason Goldberg, MTI-Andrews' VP of Marketing. "Management of keys has been one of the Achilles heels of electronic security systems, and this solution fills that void perfect, providing a very affordable solution that's easy for store associates to use and easy for loss prevention departments to manage."
Smart Key provides two levels of permissions: manager mode, which has more flexibility and security clearances built-in, and employee mode, which only gives access to merchandise displays for a designated time period. Employees are given their own programmed keys, each of which is encoded to his or her employee ID number. At the beginning of each shift, the manager programs each SmartKey that is to be deployed, thus giving the employee clearance to arm or disarm displays as needed. At the end of the specified period, the SmartKey automatically deactivates, rendering it useless.
In the event a key is lost or stolen during its active period, the key can be remotely deactivated at any time by either the store manager or from the retailer's corporate office. SmartKey also prevents internal theft by employees who might attempt accessing merchandise displays at another retail branch while the key is active. The receiver at the corresponding store will recognize the employee's smart key as being "stolen," lock the system, deactivate the key, and alert the system operator.
To further prevent theft resulting from an employee's failure to rearm the security system, SmartKey can be programmed to have the security system automatically re-arm itself after a customizable time period SmartKey provides retailers with highly customizable, intelligent with a low-cost security solution that is compatible with other in-store systems.
About MTI
Headquartered in Hillsboro, Ore., MTI-Andrews is the newly formed, privately held company resulting from the 2007 merger of MTI, which has building interactive merchandising displays for consumer electronics retailers since 1977, and Andrews Corporation, a leading supplier of aftermarket parts and equipment to the consumer electronics retailers for more than 90 years.
The combined entity remains the leading provider of turnkey solutions, including design, fabrication, installation and support, with six of the top seven consumer electronics retailers in the U.S. build their sales with MTI displays, which include Freedom Universal and Freedom LP (merchandising systems for handheld devices), Intuition (a digital signage solution family), and Audition (a store-wide signal switching system).
The company also maintains its role as a one-stop shop for its clients by stocking more than 250,000 products, and developing supply chain technology solutions and parts delivery programs that minimize delivery times and reduce extended warranty costs. For more information, go to www.mti-interactive.com
.SOURCE: MTI-Andrews