The 2023 U.S. freight and logistics market value is estimated at $1.27 trillion. At the heart of this market are the distribution centers, warehouses, and trucking companies that store and carry goods. These impressive numbers also point to an unfortunate reality; logistics facilities are prime targets for theft and shrinkage. It’s estimated that more than $50 billion in inventory is stolen on average every year from U.S. businesses by employees alone. Workplace violence is another risk that must be addressed, as it threatens not only the safety of staff and visitors, but also the brand itself.

This need for robust security must be balanced against the need for facilities to offer an open and welcoming environment. Both workers and visitors should feel they are being congenially received, not that they are approaching a fortress. Personnel are more comfortable, and possibly more productive, when their surroundings feel warm and friendly. These two seemingly opposing needs can both be successfully managed with a layered security strategy that takes into consideration the vulnerabilities in each area of the facility, as well as the fact that there are distinctly different risks at points of entry and exit.