PSTN Shutdown
You’ve likely been planning for the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch off originally scheduled for December 2025. However, telecom provider BT Group recently announced they are delaying the shutdown until January 2027. This extension gives your business more time to transition from analog phone services. But you’ll still need a plan to eventually migrate to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or other digital solutions. Don’t wait until the last minute. Use this extra time wisely to research options, budget for new systems, and implement upgrades. With the shutdown still several years away, you can make the switch on your own timeline. But start developing your strategy today.
Shoplifters getting Organised
In the last year, convenience stores in the UK spent £339 million on crime prevention measures such as CCTV, alarms, and tagging, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). However, the rise in organised retail crime is not limited to convenience stores. Shoplifting across all sectors has reached unprecedented levels, with the Office for National Statistics reporting over 430,000 incidents in 2023 alone, a rise of more than a third compared to the previous year.
Shoplifting is no longer just a matter of opportunistic theft; organised crime gangs are becoming increasingly involved, executing sophisticated heists similar to bank robberies.
