In the retail industry, the profit margins have been steadily declining, e-commerce presents new challenges and customer expectations have skyrocketed. In such a challenging environment, retail businesses have no choice but to incorporate technology into their core business operations to improve customer service, serve better products, understand customer behavior and optimize store layout to stand out from competitors.
One such technology is people counting cameras.
Not those boring ones with the sole function of counting the number of visitors, but those equipped with advanced analytics and A.I capabilities such as heat mapping, customer dwell time estimation, in-store flow analytics and customer behavior analytics. These capabilities transform cameras from simple foot-counting devices into an innovative solution that helps retailers understand customer demographics, improve customer experience and boost sales.
But how exactly do these cameras and capabilities work? What types of people counting cameras are there and which one should retailers choose? Let’s dive into the complex but quite interesting world of people counting cameras and find out.
People counting refers to the use of electronic devices to count the number of individuals who enter or exit a particular pre-defined space, such as a shopping mall or a retail store. Despite the growing market share of e-commerce, a huge proportion of retail purchases are still made via offline channels. Furthermore, the weak consumer demand due to the ongoing pandemic and the increasingly competitive landscape forces retail businesses to rethink their strategies.
Forward thinking leaders are looking for more innovative ways to turn physical stores into a competitive advantage and to boost sales. Therefore, creating a superior customer experience, optimizing store layout, and providing products that best cater to customers’ needs are more important than ever.
People counting technology can play a vital role in helping retailers achieve these goals because it can give insights about peak times for customer visits, which products are in high-demand, which customer segments are more interested in specific product lines and the sales conversion rates. Or, imagine a scenario where you reap the benefits of retail analytics by calculating the number of staff needed per 100 customers thanks to the analysis of previous people counting data. This can help provide an enhanced customer experience by pairing customers in need with available staff and boost sales.
Another benefit of using people counting cameras is that you can measure, analyze and optimize your in-store marketing and promotion campaigns. Whether it is in-store displays, sample products offered to customers or special discounts, people counting cameras can help. Retailers can get an accurate estimate of foot traffic, customer dwelling time and derive insights from customer demographics. Based on these insights, the retailers can find the optimal in-store location for the campaign and promotion, re-arrange shelves or customize the marketing and promotion campaign for a particular demographic group, such as “men aged 20-30” or “children ''.
If you want to learn more about different people counting technologies and get a better understanding of which solution is best for you, consider reading the following article.
People Counting: Read This Before You Buy
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