Surveillance cameras generating an ever-increasing volume of footage, which ultimately results in more complex visual data processing tasks. While human visual systems have their limits, computer vision can extract rich information from images and video via fast, automated and personalized processes.

Computer vision

The term is directly related to concepts such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning. The system receives visual information, analyzes it, and produces results way much faster than humans could. This is made possible by deep learning based on neural networks.

Benefits for the retail industry

Computer vision can transform many business operations in the retail industry, from customer management to shelf management and security. By analyzing video in real-time, companies can identify patterns and tackle challenges real-time so they can provide smooth process management and overall better experience for customers.

Customer experience

Through analyzing footage, retailers can better understand customers’ movement in physical spaces and provide more convenient experience to them. In addition, loyal customers can be recognized through face recognition, offering them personalized shopping experience.

Monitoring cashiers

Another scenario of using computer vision in retail is monitoring the activity of cashiers to promptly notice any mistakes they could make or to prevent theft. A camera can be mounted over the cash register transmitting video to the system for analysis and detection of irregularities. The system registers purchases passing the barcode scanner and sends alerts as needed. It can also collect sales statistics, count the number of customers and provide many other insights.

Queue management

This scenario improves the quality of service by detecting the number of people queueing in front of each cash register, so customers can be directed to less busy cashiers or more cash registers can be opened.

In addition, it can estimate the number of people in line with carts, shopping baskets or goods in their hands and calculate the wait time based on the footage. Once it exceeds a certain limit, store personnel can receive a real-time alert and make the necessary preparations.

Product quality control

The system can learn to recognize spoiled food or compromised packaging. This translates into automatic quality control when good are received, moved, placed on store shelves or put on display. 

Detection of empty spaces on store shelves

An empty store shelf or display case means a waste of valuable space. With a computer vision system that recognizes such situations, the empty space can be promptly restocked.

Next step

Computer vision offers many opportunities to retailers. Contact our experts and learn about personalized solutions that can boost your business.