Verkada-backed study links rising retail violence to retention risk, creating demand signal for low-friction security tech

New updates have been reported about Verkada (PC:VERKA)

A new State of Retail Safety report—commissioned by the Loss Prevention Research Council and conducted with The Harris Poll in partnership with Verkada—finds a sharp uptick in workplace violence that directly affects Verkada’s target retail customers and creates an actionable sales narrative: 52% of retail workers say they are likely to leave their job in the next 12 months because of personal safety concerns, 35% now report feeling unsafe at work (up from 27% in 2024), physical assaults rose 22% year‑over‑year, aggressive incidents involving former and current coworkers rose 28% and 26% respectively, nearly 40% of workers worry about theft and verbal harassment most or every time they work, and store managers increasingly report safety as a hiring barrier (49% vs. 37% in 2024); the survey of 1,000 retail workers and 2,066 U.S. adults builds on a 2024 baseline and underscores the broader economic stakes—retail contributes roughly $5.3 trillion annually to U.S. GDP. The report also highlights a strategic market nuance for Verkada: traditional physical theft-prevention measures (locked cabinets, gates) are widely perceived as disruptive—46% of workers and 60% of consumers say such measures degrade the shopping experience and 59% of workers say they reduce on-the-job efficiency—while stores that use those measures report higher rates of violence across categories, suggesting retailers will prefer technology solutions that improve safety without increasing customer friction.

For Verkada the research provides both validation and a go-to-market playbook: the company-backed study gives sales teams leverage to position its integrated cloud security stack (video, access control, environmental sensors, alarms, intercoms and workplace tools) to large retailers worried about frontline retention and reputational risk, and the company can cite its installed base of over 30,000 organizations globally as evidence of scale; however, executives should treat this as a qualified opportunity—adoption hinges on demonstrable ROI in reducing incidents and on addressing privacy and labor-relations concerns—so priority actions are clear: accelerate targeted pilots with measurable safety and retention KPIs ahead of peak shopping periods, quantify incremental pipeline and conversion rates from retailer verticals, and prepare messaging and compliance materials that mitigate privacy/regulatory objections while tracking impacts on customer experience and hiring costs.