Symington's Limited

How Symington's Achieved a 90% Reduction in Incident Response Time

Shaun Brown, Head of IT; Colin Walsh, Service Desk Manager

Cameras Access control

Key Metrics

90% Reduction in Incident Response Time: Symington’s reduced the time required to retrieve and review video footage from hours to just minutes.
100% Remote Access Management: The IT team can now manage access control and security across all sites without needing to be on-site, saving significant time and travel costs.
Proactive Security Alerts: Verkada’s motion detection and alert system has prevented multiple potential issues, maintaining a safer work environment.

Background

Symington’s Limited, a leading manufacturer and distributor, and is renowned for its wide range of quick-preparation food products, including Mugshot, Naked Noodle, & Chicken Tonight. With a rich history in the food industry since 1827, the company has built a strong reputation as a reliable provider of convenient and delicious meals.

Shaun Brown, Head of IT, has been with Symington’s for three years, leading a team of seven dedicated professionals. Colin Walsh, Service Desk Manager, has spent five years managing IT operations: "If it has a plug, we likely look after it.”

The Challenge

Before partnering with Verkada, Symington’s faced significant challenges with their outdated security systems. These systems were cumbersome, difficult to manage, and lacked user-friendly features critical for safety and operational efficiency. "We had a CCTV system in place, but it wasn’t very user-friendly," Shaun shared. "We wanted something more modern, with a web interface that was easier to manage."

“At our manufacturing sites, we needed a system that could cover everything—from external cameras monitoring our grounds to internal cameras protecting worker safety in stairwells and around high-risk areas,” Shaun explained. “We also needed a reliable way to monitor and manage access control, especially in our server rooms.”

The Solution

Symington’s turned to Verkada, initially trialing the system at their largest manufacturing and distribution sites. Impressed by the seamless integration and ease of use, they implemented Verkada’s solutions across all key locations. Today, Symington’s uses close to 100 Verkada cameras and 10 access control units across their facilities.

The cameras are strategically placed throughout manufacturing areas, stairwells, and exterior grounds, providing comprehensive coverage. "The new cameras are positioned around external areas, canteens, and stairwells for safety and security," Colin noted. “The access control system, integrated with cameras, allows only authorised personnel to access sensitive areas. The ability to monitor and control access remotely through the Verkada Pass mobile app has been a game-changer for our IT team, allowing us to respond to incidents quickly—even when offsite.”

Impact & Benefits

1. Enhanced Incident Response and Time Savings

One of the most significant benefits Symington’s experienced with Verkada is the drastic reduction in time spent managing security incidents. "Previously, our local engineering team would spend hours retrieving footage from the old NVR systems. Now, with Verkada, it takes just minutes," Shaun highlighted.

This time-saving applies not just to video retrieval but also to overall incident management. For instance, when all our switches in the warehouse went off, the team quickly used Verkada to identify the cause of the issue "Being able to jump on and look at something in real-time has been the biggest benefit," Colin added.

2. Improved Access Control, Security Monitoring, and Worker Safety

Verkada’s integrated access control and camera system enables the IT team to monitor entry points and critical areas. "The new system is much more efficient. We now have audit logs and simplified access management," Shaun noted.

A key safety improvement has been the addition of cameras in stairwells and other high-risk locations within the manufacturing sites. These cameras play a crucial role in preventing accidents, such as slip-and-falls, by enabling the team to monitor and respond swiftly to any incidents. "We’ve placed cameras in areas like stairwells, which has helped us maintain worker safety," Colin explained.

When an unauthorised individual used a misplaced access card to enter the warehouse, the team quickly found and resolved the situation. “With the cameras integrated with access control, we could easily identify who picked up the wrong badge by mistake," Shaun added.

Another significant improvement has been the ability to manage access remotely. "We can now remotely unlock doors or grant access to service rooms without needing to be on-site," Colin noted. This feature has reduced unnecessary trips for the IT staff, especially to manufacturing sites where they don’t have a physical presence, resulting in substantial time and resource savings.

3. Proactive Security Measures and Reduced Operational Disruptions

With Verkada's motion detection and alerting capabilities, Symington’s security team can proactively address potential issues before they escalate. The system’s role-based access lets specific teams monitor areas prone to unauthorised access or unusual activities during off-hours. "The system is great for tracking and identifying unusual activity around the building," Shaun pointed out.

For instance, Symington’s distribution center has benefited from Verkada’s motion detection by identifying and addressing unauthorised vehicle movements, such as trucks going in the wrong direction. These incidents, previously challenging to detect and respond to, are now easily handled through Verkada’s video analytics, real-time monitoring, and ease of video playback.

Looking Ahead

Symington’s plans to expand its use of Verkada’s technology, exploring options like Verkada Guest to manage unmanned reception areas and automate document signing. The team is also eager to leverage machine learning-powered features, like license plate recognition (LPR), to support security at their distribution centers as well as more cameras.

Shaun and Colin are confident in recommending Verkada to other companies, highlighting the seamless integration, user-friendly interface, and significant time savings as key benefits. "The support we’ve received has been excellent," Shaun noted. As Symington’s continues to grow, Verkada remains a critical partner in keeping its manufacturing and distribution operations both efficient and secure.

Attend a webinar to learn more about Verkada, or get a personalised demo to see it in action.