Why Most Security Providers Are Still Under‑Adopting Automation — and How That’s a Competitive Gap
The security industry stands at a crossroads. On one hand, technological advances make AI and automation powerful tools for improving efficiency, consistency, and responsiveness. On the other, many security providers remain hesitant to fully embrace these changes. The slow pace of adoption represents a growing competitive gap — especially as other industries surge ahead. Understanding where the industry stands, what’s holding it back, and what early adopters stand to gain makes a strong case for automation as a strategic necessity.
Automation Across Industries: The Bigger Picture
In 2025, automation is no longer niche — it’s deeply embedded across a wide range of sectors. A recent “Enterprise Automation Index 2025” showed that 73.2% of businesses increased their automation investments over the past year.
Yet, the same report flagged a major problem: 61.3% of organizations said their automation tools remain under‑utilized, often because of fragmented strategies or lack of orchestration across systems.
Other sources reinforce how widespread adoption has become. Many companies in fields like technology, finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail report using AI in at least one business function. Depending on the industry, significant portions of operations — from HR and scheduling to data analysis and customer service — are being touched by automation.
In manufacturing — historically the poster child for automation — companies are leveraging AI and automation not just for production, but for predictive maintenance, quality control, and workforce support.
These numbers show that across industries, organizations increasingly view automation as essential. The shift is not only about cost savings or labor reduction — it’s about agility, scalability, and staying competitive.
So when nearly three-quarters of businesses across the economy are investing more in automation, the fact that many security providers lag behind becomes more striking.
Where the Security Industry Stands
According to the Trackforce 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, only 53% of security providers currently use AI or automation tools. Meanwhile, 55% of non‑users say they are actively exploring these technologies.
That reveals what you might call an “AI adoption paradox”: many firms recognize the potential value of automation — real-time incident detection, predictive scheduling, digital task management — but hesitate to implement.
Layered on top of this is a common structural problem: many security providers still operate using siloed systems, paper‑based processes, and legacy tools, making integration, coordination, and real-time visibility difficult.
As a result, operations remain inefficient, response times slow, scheduling and reporting remain manual, and delivering a consistent, high-quality client experience becomes harder.
Why Adoption Remains Low in Security
Given the stats from broader industries and the pressure to modernize, why are many security firms still holding back? Several factors seem to play a role:
- Cost / ROI Concerns — Upfront investment in AI‑ready tools or integrated platforms can be significant. For smaller to mid-sized providers operating on tight margins, the cost may feel risky — especially if the benefits (efficiency gains, cost savings, improved retention) are hard to quantify or take time to materialize.
- Complexity & Integration Challenges — As seen in other sectors, fragmented and siloed automation strategies often lead to under‑utilization. For security firms, integrating diverse tools (scheduling, incident reporting, access logs, patrol tracking, client portals) — plus legacy systems — can be daunting.
- Skills & Experience Gap — Many workforce teams lack the training or experience to deploy or manage AI tools effectively. Security operations historically have prioritized physical presence and vigilance over technical literacy.
- Resistance to Change / Organizational Inertia — Security is often conservative. Manual processes, paper logs, human judgment, and chain-of-command protocols are deeply embedded. Change can feel disruptive, risky, or unnecessary — especially when clients or regulators accept traditional workflows.
- Regulatory and Client Expectations — Some clients may favor human-centered security over “automated” processes. Others might have compliance or privacy concerns about AI usage, data logging, surveillance automation, or digital reporting.
These barriers are understandable, especially in an industry where errors and liability carry real risk. But if the global economy and other sectors are any indication, risk‑averse stance comes at a cost.
Early Adopters in Security Can Outperform
For security providers willing to embrace automation and modern workforce‑management platforms, there’s a powerful opportunity to leap ahead of the competition.
✔️ Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings
- Automation of routine administrative tasks — scheduling, timesheets, reporting — frees up time for supervisors and reduces manual overhead.
- Consolidating multiple systems (scheduling, reporting, client portals, incident logs) into one unified platform reduces “digital fatigue,” minimizes duplication, and lowers error risk.
- Some automation adopters in other sectors report cost reductions of 25% or more.
✔️ Better Responsiveness & Real-Time Visibility
- Digital dashboards allow supervisors to monitor security operations live, track incidents, and dispatch human resources or trigger alerts instantly — instead of waiting for paper logs or end-of-shift reports.
- Automated systems can improve situational awareness, especially when combined with smart sensors, mobile reporting, and AI‑driven alert triage.
✔️ Improved Workforce Experience & Retention
- Clear, digital post‑orders and task assignments reduce ambiguity and increase accountability.
- Less administrative burden on guards so they can focus on security tasks, not paperwork.
- More professional, modern tools can help improve morale, attract talent, and reduce turnover in a historically high‑rotation industry.
✔️ Competitive Differentiation & Client Value
- As clients (especially in high‑risk sectors like critical infrastructure, utilities, real estate) become more sophisticated, they will expect providers that offer real‑time reporting, integration with their own systems, and robust audit trails.
- Providers championing “digital‑ready security” can position themselves as forward-thinking partners, not just guard companies , creating a strong value proposition for long-term contracts.
In many respects, automation isn’t just a tool for internal improvement, it’s a differentiator that can drive business growth and client trust.
What a “Digital‑Ready” Security Firm Looks Like Today
To reap these benefits, a modern security provider needs to strike a balance between people, process, and technology. Here’s how that manifests:
People: Guards, supervisors, and management should be trained not just in traditional security protocols, but in using digital tools — mobile reporting apps, dashboards, real-time alerts, integrated shift/incident logs. Security personnel evolve from manual record‑keepers to proactive, tech‑savvy responders.
Process: Paper-based post orders, spreadsheets, and manual scheduling give way to digital workflows. Task assignments, shift changes, incident logs — all handled through a unified digital platform. This improves clarity, accountability, and auditability.
Technology: AI and automation sit at the core. Scheduling tools might use predictive analytics to forecast staffing needs. Incident reporting can be automated. Real-time monitoring dashboards and centralized portals enable supervisors to coordinate responses quickly and give clients transparent visibility. Integration with client systems — access control, IoT sensors, surveillance — becomes seamless.
Providers using integrated, AI‑ready workforce management platforms (like those from Trackforce) are already seeing measurable benefits: streamlined labor management, simplified compliance, faster incident response, and stronger client reporting.
Why Closing the Gap Matters — and How to Start
The data from broader industries leaves little doubt: automation is becoming the backbone of efficient, modern operations. For security providers, failing to keep pace isn’t just a missed opportunity — it’s a strategic disadvantage.
Interest and exploration alone aren’t enough. As the 2025 Enterprise Automation Index shows, many companies across sectors increased investments — yet a majority still admit their automation tools are under‑utilized.
Closing the gap requires commitment and a deliberate plan:
- Assess current operations — What systems are still paper‑based? Where are inefficiencies, redundancies, or blind spots?
- Pilot integrated automation tools — Start small (scheduling, reporting, digital post orders), evaluate ROI, work out workflows.
- Train people early — Invest in staff training so security teams can adopt tools confidently.
- Build a “digital‑first” culture — Reinforce that automation complements — not replaces — human judgment. Emphasize improved service, responsiveness, and clarity.
- Track results & iterate — Monitor metrics: response times, cost savings, turnover/retention, client satisfaction. Use data to justify expansion.
For security providers willing to invest, this journey can shift them from “traditional guard services” to “smart security operations providers” — ready for modern clients, modern risks, and a more demanding security landscape.
Conclusion
Across industries, automation is becoming table stakes. Many sectors — from manufacturing and retail to finance and healthcare — are scaling AI and automation to improve quality, efficiency, and competitiveness. Yet the security industry remains remarkably behind.
That gap presents both a warning and an opportunity. Firms that cling to legacy, manual processes risk falling behind — both operationally and reputationally. But those that embrace integrated, AI‑enabled workforce management tools stand to gain more than just efficiency: they can differentiate themselves, retain employees, respond to incidents faster, and provide clients with transparency and value.
In other words: automation in security isn’t just “nice to have” anymore. It’s a competitive necessity.
Is your organization ready to close the automation gap? Get a free demo to see how automating workflows can improve your business.
