The Next Generation in Retail Store Anti-Theft and Consumer Tracking

If you are operating a brick and mortar store, you may feel that you start out with a few disadvantages compared to online retailers. For example, it’s a lot tougher to scam an online store than it is to walk into a retail store and shoplift. Online stores can also track site usage to see what customers are looking at and provide the right incentives in real time. However, modern anti-theft and customer tracking services are leveling the playing field. Here are a few ways.

Modern Surveillance Tech Helps Prevent Theft

You’ve probably seen TV shows where a person walks into a casino and is immediately met by a couple of large security guys who escort him out. The facial recognition software picked up on a known cheater and security could keep him away from the tables. The fact is that this tech exists in real life, and casinos are not the only establishments using it. Law enforcement, airports, border security, and yes, even retail stores are getting in on the action.

Imagine getting an alert immediately when a known shoplifter enters your store! Some retailers don’t even report shoplifting anymore if the person is caught and willing to have a photo taken to add to the security file. After all, the staff may have caught the thief in the act this time, but after a minor slap on the wrist from the law, he or she may be ready to become a repeat offender. However, one simple photo could alert any of your stores the next time this person makes an appearance. This allows the sales team to be put on alert immediately.

Facial Recognition Uses for Consumer Tracking

Now we enter the future of retail advertising and product placement. You may be familiar with future proposed in the movie Minority Report where retina scans result in direct marketing to consumers as they enter stores. Again, this technology isn’t far off from what we see available today.

Facial recognition can keep track of what a customer looks at while in a store. This can allow a brand to direct marketing toward items that are of interest to consumers on a person by person basis, much the way online stores use behavioral marketing. Other applications include sending mobile offers directly to customers while they are in-store to make sure the sale is completed.

Is Your Store Using Technology to Compete with Online Retailers?

In our modern world of online shopping, brick and mortar stores can’t afford to fall behind when it comes to the technology that can prevent shoplifting and improve customer experience through behavioral tracking. Surveillance cameras and facial recognition software that photographs and memorizes faces for marketing and research purposes are just two vital advancements to the future of retail stores.