The Future

Abstract

No book on loss control would be complete without a chapter discussing what lies ahead for retailers and, specifically, for asset protection specialists. The forecasting of future trends is an inexact science, but it is also one of the most important tasks a competent executive can perform. Strategic as well as short-term activities should be planned with an eye toward the future. The world is rapidly changing, demographically and geopolitically, as seen by the radical changes taking place in Eastern Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. These changes have a dramatic impact on the way retailers do business. They also determine the way crime and loss affect the retail industry. Consumers, desired goods, and selling channels are all evolving.