Security professionals worldwide share a common challenge that rarely makes headlines: the growing gap between modern security needs and outdated screening methods, says Peter Evans, CEO of Xtract One Technologies.

Seamless security

Many facilities still rely on decades-old security screening approaches that create unnecessary friction between security requirements and operational success.

The real cost manifests in ways that standard metrics often miss.

A facility might successfully screen every visitor, but at what price?

For example, long lines in stadiums and arenas frustrate guests and cut into concession revenues.

Overwhelmed staff make mistakes. Valuable resources get misallocated.

More critically, while modern facilities leverage sophisticated systems and their data to enhance operations, merchandising and guest experience, traditional metal detectors remain data-blind.

They stand as silent barriers, unable to contribute to the rich stream of operational insights that drive modern facility management.

These hidden impacts ripple through operations, affecting everything from guest satisfaction to bottom-line results and strategic decision-making.

Moving past metal detection

Modern demands have outpaced traditional security screening methods. Today’s guests arrive carrying multiple electronic devices.

Students need laptops and tablets for education. Healthcare facilities must balance urgent access with strict security protocols.

The old model of treating every metal object as suspicious no longer serves anyone’s interests.

Yet many security directors hesitate to move beyond familiar methods. This hesitation stems from long-held concerns about effectiveness and reliability.

However, clinging to outdated approaches creates its own risks.

When security screening methods fail to distinguish between actual threats and everyday items, security teams waste valuable time on false alerts while real risks might slip through.

The traditional metrics of success no longer tell the complete story.

Modern security operations must consider a more comprehensive metric: mean time to ingress (MTTI).

This measurement encompasses the entire entry experience, from initial queue time to final facility access, providing deeper insights into operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.

This broader view reveals opportunities for improvement that traditional measurements miss.

Consider how advanced security screening systems change the security equation.

Rather than treating every visitor carrying metal as a potential threat, modern technology can quickly distinguish between common items and actual risks.

This capability dramatically reduces unnecessary secondary security screenings while maintaining or improving threat detection rates.

The compounding impact of delays

In high-volume environments, minor delays can cascade into major operational challenges. Modern fans arrive with higher expectations and less patience than ever before.

This heightened frustration with long lines can lead to dangerous situations.

In manufacturing settings, similar delays translate directly to lost production time, costing facilities thousands in revenue per minute.

For stadiums, these bottlenecks create a domino effect throughout the venue – reducing merchandise sales, overwhelming concession stands and disrupting the carefully orchestrated flow of game-day operations.

A new framework for measuring success

Modern security screening requires a more nuanced evaluation framework that considers multiple factors:

1. Secondary screening efficiency: How quickly and accurately can potential threats be resolved?
2. Queue management: Are wait times being optimized during peak periods?
3. Threat detection accuracy: What is the balance between false alerts and successful threat identification?
4. Staff response protocols: How effectively can security personnel address potential threats?
5. Operational integration: How well does security screening align with other facility operations?
6. Individual dignity: How can screening maintain effectiveness while respecting personal privacy?
7. Visitor comfort: What measures ensure a non-intrusive, respectful screening experience?

The role of AI

AI-powered weapons detection represents a significant advancement in security screening technology.

Unlike traditional systems that simply react to metal objects, modern AI solutions can analyze multiple characteristics simultaneously – size, shape, density and other attributes – to make intelligent decisions about potential threats in real time.

Security personnel benefit significantly from this technological advancement.

Instead of spending their time conducting manual searches for every individual, they can focus on actual security concerns.

Their role shifts from processing people to protecting them – a change that improves both job satisfaction and security effectiveness.

Real-world applications

The healthcare sector illustrates these benefits clearly.

Emergency departments need immediate access protocols while maintaining strict security standards.

Modern security screening systems can accommodate medical devices and urgent situations without compromising protection.

This adaptability helps security teams maintain safety without impeding critical care.

Educational environments present similar opportunities. Schools must process thousands of students quickly each morning while ensuring campus safety.

Smart screening systems can handle this volume efficiently while detecting genuine threats. The result?

Students get to class on time, staff maintain control and parents feel confident about their children’s safety.

Entertainment venues perhaps benefit most dramatically.

Major arenas must screen massive crowds quickly without creating bottlenecks or compromising security.

Advanced systems make this possible by processing visitors efficiently while maintaining vigilant threat detection.

The improved flow increases concession sales and enhances the overall guest experience.

Smart data, smarter security

These advancements generate valuable operational data that helps security directors optimize their operations.

Real-time analytics reveal traffic patterns, alert frequencies and response times.

This information enables smart staffing decisions and protocol adjustments that improve both security and efficiency.

Protecting privacy while maintaining security

Privacy remains just as important as screening technology advances.

Modern systems must protect individual privacy while maintaining security effectiveness.

It’s a balance that requires careful attention to data handling procedures and clear policies about information use.

Successful security operations demonstrate that privacy and protection can coexist.

Integration over inconvenience

The most effective security directors now approach screening as an integrated part of operations rather than a necessary inconvenience.

They understand that good security enhances rather than impedes the visitor experience.

This mindset shift requires more than just implementing modern technology – it demands staff training to move beyond traditional approaches.

Security personnel must learn new protocols, master efficient secondary screening techniques and abandon outdated practices that create unnecessary friction.

Success in modern security screening comes through understanding its dual nature – protecting people while facilitating their activities.

When security measures work in harmony with operational goals, everyone benefits.

However, this harmony depends heavily on well-trained staff who understand both the technology and its proper application.

Visitors move through quickly, trained personnel respond effectively to real threats and facilities maintain comprehensive protection without relying on outdated, heavy-handed screening methods.

The future of security screening

Looking ahead, several trends are shaping the future of security screening:

1. Enhanced integration: Security systems will become more deeply connected with other facility operations, enabling smoother responses to potential threats
2. Improved analytics: Advanced data analysis will help facilities optimize their security operations in real-time, from staff deployment to entry point distribution
3. Adaptive technology: Security solutions will continue changing to meet operational needs through regular updates and improved capabilities
4. Focus on experience: Future innovations will further reduce friction in the screening process while maintaining or enhancing security effectiveness

The security industry stands ready to embrace these changes.

Forward-thinking security directors already recognize that maintaining the status quo poses greater risks than adopting new methods.

They understand that effective security screening enhances rather than inhibits operations.

This recognition drives continuous improvement in both technology and methodology.

Success in modern security screening comes from optimizing every aspect of the entry experience while maintaining effective protection.

Adopting new technologies and rethinking traditional metrics allows facilities to create safer environments without compromising operational efficiency or guest experience.

This article was originally published in the special ISC West 2025 March edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.