McLane Co.

Background

McLane Company, Inc, is one of the largest distributors in the United States, serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. Founded in 1894, McLane has more than 80 distribution centers across the country, and delivers to nearly every zip code in the US. Safeguarding McLane’s vast network are Glenn Master, Head of Asset Protection, Security and Crisis Management, and Justin Readett, Director of IT. Together, they foster a strong collaboration between IT and security, continuously modernizing infrastructure to achieve operational excellence.

The Challenge: Security at Scale Across the Enterprise

“Freight at rest is freight at risk.”

As the physical security industry evolves, more leaders like Glenn and Justin are recognizing the limitations of traditional systems. The shift toward hybrid cloud models is gaining momentum because these platforms offer more intuitive and user-friendly ways to protect people and places. In fact, 92% of security leaders now believe that the future of physical security is cloud-based. This industry trend underscores why McLane chose to invest in a unified, cloud-based security framework capable of supporting consistent, proactive protection across all operations. 

The Solution: Modernized Infrastructure and AI Integration

The move to Verkada's cloud-based platform was pivotal in transitioning to a centralized model, mirroring the shift many industry leaders are making towards more intuitive and streamlined physical security management systems. This approach not only unifies security management across all locations but also supports an enterprise-wide crisis management strategy. The centralized Security Operations Center (SOC) acts as the nerve center for all security-related activities, offering real-time monitoring and comprehensive control over the entire network.

The Results

Centralized Remote Monitoring

Verkada’s Command platform demonstrates the shift from traditional on-premise security systems, which often involve navigating multiple interfaces, rules, and processes. In contrast, the cloud-hosted Command platform consolidates all physical security technologies under a single, user-friendly interface. This integration enhances situational awareness, simplifies management, and enables quicker, more coordinated responses to incidents across McLane’s facilities.

With real-time monitoring capabilities, this system grants McLane superior oversight and control over multiple locations from a single command center, significantly driving response times and situational awareness. The unified platform helps ensure that all security elements are seamlessly connected, allowing for a holistic view of security across all distribution centers. This approach also optimizes resource allocation.

“We continue to seek ways of producing ROI in both operations and security using Verkada’s application. Recently, we have implemented monitoring strategies that not only identify immediate threats on our property but also have been able to reallocate guard resources in other areas of the operation. This hybrid strategy of integrating technology and human intervention has worked out extremely well with our overall security approach at McLane.” 

Real-Time Security Response

McLane’s proactive approach strengthens their security posture by focusing on strategic interventions. "Verkada’s cameras act as a second set of eyes, allowing us to respond quickly.” Alerting features include:

• Motion Alerts: Motion alerts notify team members when motion, people, or vehicles are detected in the camera's field of view.

• Actionable Alerts for Vehicles and Persons of Interest (POI): Integration of real-time POI alerts with license plate recognition speeds up threat assessments and responses. This system alerts security immediately when a recognized individual or vehicle is detected, enabling prompt action.

• Proactive Monitoring: Verkada’s system can automatically detect unusual activities and crowd formations, allowing McLane’s security team to address incidents proactively.

• Line-Crossing and Loitering Alerts: Verkada’s line-crossing alerts help protect restricted areas by notifying security when boundaries are breached. Loitering alerts help monitor sensitive zones, triggering notifications.

• AI-Powered Analytics: AI analytics can aid in anticipating potential security issues, automating routine surveillance and highlighting anomalies immediately.

Faster Investigations

Verkada’s cloud platform makes finding footage easier with advanced analytics and access from anywhere. Teams across McLane can automatically group evidence and build incident reports that can be shared with law enforcement electronically.

With AI-powered video analytics, McLane simplified investigation to just minutes or seconds. AI-powered search enables team members to conduct searches using natural language in a freeform text bar, making it possible to locate vehicles and people within seconds. Enabled through Verkada’s hybrid-cloud architecture, this feature processes video on both cameras and in the cloud, fostering continuous innovation in security technology.

"I remember the days when we had to pull VHS tapes; you would spend eight to ten hours reviewing footage. And the technology only allowed for about ten days worth of recording. Now, it's amazing how fast we can pull data for investigations, which now only takes minutes. I can start an investigation in the morning and, by lunch, have enough video evidence to present to our executive management."

Furthermore, the introduction of AI-powered alerts has redefined proactive security management. These alerts enable McLane to set notifications for any significant event detected by AI analysis. Alerts can be configured to notify when a person without a safety vest is detected or when a specific delivery truck arrives, enabling security staff to react promptly.

Looking Ahead: Integrating Access Control

One of the future areas of focus for McLane is the addition of Verkada’s access control solution. This integration provides crucial context for security decisions at high-risk areas, allowing them to manage and monitor access throughout their facilities. By integrating security cameras and access control, McLane can address complex security challenges.

The convergence of IT and security at McLane has fortified their locations against disruptions, helping ensure that McLane remains at the forefront of logistical innovation. The industry-wide shift towards cloud-first solutions underscores the relevance of McLane's strategy; data shows that 75% of IT and physical security leaders are planning to transition to the cloud by 2026. This trend is indicative of the broader adoption rate across the sector, reflecting a move towards more scalable, connected, and efficiently managed security operations.

“Our journey with Verkada is just beginning. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”