Video surveillance has been part of a retailer’s DNA for decades. Yet, despite years and years of know-how, there hasn’t been much innovation. This is because an analog CCTV camera is frankly a ‘dumb’ device used as a reactive tool to help reduce loss. We watch and we react, mainly driven by liability.
Network video, however, is changing the way retailers run their stores by smartening up surveillance with intelligent analytics. Video surveillance has always been a great tool when it comes to loss prevention and employee safety. But network video – using IP-based cameras and software – can tell you far more about your business than who’s trying to rob the till. Viewed over time, network video surveillance can help uncover trends and patterns you can use to improve all phases of your business.
An IP camera is more than just an eye in the sky. It’s an intelligent computer that can tell you where your customers went (heat mapping/flow charts), what they bought (POS analysis) and how long they stood in front of a display or in line (dwell time analysis). It’s like having several staff members solely dedicated to observing and measuring every little detail in the store – all from a bird’s eye view. Having this video context gives store owners and LP managers an advantage over their competitors who are merely using CCTV for surveillance alone.
