The End of Labour Only Security
- Justin Myles MSc FSyI CPP PSP CSMP
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
The security industry is undergoing a structural shift. AI-driven monitoring, autonomous detection, and remote response are no longer emerging technologies, they are already reshaping how risk is managed. For manned guarding companies still operating a labour-only model, the question is no longer if change is required, but how quickly it happens.
Key takeaways
Labour-only guarding models are becoming commercially unviable
Hybrid security blends AI monitoring with targeted human response
Smaller guarding companies can adapt faster than large incumbents
AI improves detection, reporting, and response consistency
The role of the security officer becomes more valuable, not less
Why the Labour Only Model Is Becoming Uncompetitive
Autonomous technologies, AI-driven monitoring, remote assessment, and intelligent response systems are no longer “emerging”. They are deployed, proven, and scaling rapidly across real environments. For manned guarding companies still operating a labour only model, the uncomfortable reality is this: that model is approaching the end of its commercial viability.
This is not a failure of people. Security officers remain essential.It is a failure of a business model built on linear growth, more guards, more hours, more cost, at a time when clients are demanding better outcomes, faster response, clearer evidence, and lower total risk, often at a lower overall cost.
Traditional manned guarding is under pressure from every direction:
Rising labour costs without corresponding increases in value
Inconsistent service quality driven by turnover, fatigue, and training gaps
Growing client demand for evidence, insight, and accountability — not just presence
Technologies that now outperform static guarding in detection, consistency, and reporting
AI-enabled systems don’t call in sick.
They don’t miss movement at 3 a.m.
They don’t forget to write reports.
They don’t struggle to articulate incidents under pressure.
In real deployments, these systems are already reducing false alarms, improving detection reliability, and delivering clearer audit trails than single-officer static posts. When combined with remote monitoring and rapid response, they often outperform traditional guarding models at a fraction of the cost.
There will always be environments where human presence is essential.The mistake is assuming that presence must also be the first line of detection.
In this environment, companies offering only security officers will increasingly lose on price, capability, and credibility.
The Winners: Hybrid Security Providers
The future belongs to companies that offer blended security services, integrating:
AI-driven monitoring and assessment
Autonomous or semi-autonomous detection systems
Remote communication and policy-driven escalation
Mobile or rapid response units
Highly targeted, intelligence-led manned guarding
In this model, technology does the watching, analysing, logging, and coordinating. Humans focus on what humans still do best: judgement, intervention, reassurance, and presence — where it actually adds value.
This is not about replacing guards.It is about deploying them deliberately and intelligently.
The Opportunity for Smaller Manned Guarding Companies
Smaller manned guarding companies are not doomed. In many cases, they are better positioned than large legacy operators to adapt — if they move decisively.
Their advantage lies in agility. Smaller providers are often closer to their clients, less constrained by rigid operating models, and able to trial new approaches faster than national incumbents.
The future for these companies lies in becoming:
Outcome-focused rather than hours-based
Technology-enabled, not technology-resistant
More responsive, not more labour-intensive
Instead of selling “one guard, twelve hours”, they must sell risk reduction, response time, incident resolution, and operational insight.
Clients don’t buy hours.They buy confidence, control, and reduced exposure.
AI as the Force Multiplier
AI should not be viewed as a threat to guarding companies. It is rapidly becoming the backbone of modern security operations.
Monitoring and Assessment
AI systems can monitor multiple sites simultaneously, identify genuine threats, filter false alarms, and escalate only when human intervention is required. This dramatically reduces wasted call-outs and ineffective patrols.
Coordinated Response
AI can determine who should respond, how, and when whether that is a mobile unit, on-site officer, client representative, or emergency service based on predefined rules and real-time context.
Stakeholder Communication
Automated, intelligent communication ensures clients, managers, and responders receive clear, consistent updates without relying on an officer under pressure to relay information manually.
Administration and Reporting
Incident reporting has long been a weak point in manned guarding.
AI can now generate structured, accurate, professional post-incident reports, complete timelines, and evidence packs automatically removing a major operational and reputational risk.
This alone represents a competitive advantage many guarding companies still underestimate.
Redefining the Role of the Security Officer
In a hybrid model, the security officer is no longer a passive observer.
They become:
A mobile responder, not a static cost
A verifier, not the first line of detection
A decision-maker supported by real-time intelligence
A professional representative, not an isolated individual
This shift increases officer effectiveness, reduces burnout, improves retention, and delivers measurably more value to clients.
What Must Change
For manned guarding companies to survive and remain competitive, several hard decisions are unavoidable:
Stop selling time and start selling outcomes
Invest in partnerships with technology and monitoring providers
Retrain leadership, not just frontline staff
Accept lower headcount growth in exchange for higher margins and longer client retention
Redesign pricing models around blended service delivery
For many companies, the first step is not buying technology. It is reassessing where human resource genuinely adds value and where it does not.
Waiting for clients to demand this change is a mistake. By then, competitors will already be embedded.
The Future Is Hybrid
The security industry is not being disrupted.It is being rewritten.
Autonomous systems and AI will continue to absorb tasks humans perform poorly or inefficiently. Companies that cling to a labour-only identity will find themselves competing in a shrinking, commoditised market.
The companies that succeed will not be the loudest adopters of technology. They will be the ones that integrate it deliberately, responsibly, and commercially.
Those that evolve into hybrid security providers combining people, technology, intelligence, and response will not only survive, but lead.
Adapt now or be replaced later.
FAQs
Does this mean manned guarding is becoming obsolete?
No. It means the role of the security officer is changing. In hybrid security models, officers are deployed where judgement, intervention, and presence genuinely add value — supported by intelligence, not replaced by it.
Is hybrid security only realistic for large operators?
No. In many cases, smaller manned guarding companies are better positioned to adapt. They are typically more agile, less constrained by legacy contracts, and able to integrate new delivery models faster than national incumbents.
Where should a guarding company start if it wants to evolve?
Not with technology purchases. The first step is reassessing where human resource delivers the most value, and where intelligent systems can provide better consistency, visibility, and control.
