Why retailers should consider people counting solutions
The rise of online shopping has been increasing year-on-year, then COVID-19 forced us all to shop online during lockdowns, so it’s more important than ever for brick-and-mortar retailers to understand their shoppers.
People Counting solutions offer a range of benefits to multiple industries, from smart buildings to universities to hospitals and retailers. For retailers, the real-time occupancy data that people counting devices provide can be used to manage store safety, devise effective staff timetables, and gain further insight into shopping behaviors. This blog post will examine why retailers should consider implementing people counting solutions.
What are people counting solutions?
People counting technology has many names, but ultimately it consists of a device, monitor or sensor with one essential function: to anonymously monitor the number of people going in and out of a space, which could be a room, area, or building. The technology used to count people may also be called people counters, occupancy counters, footfall counters, people counting sensors and other similar names.
At any given time, systems managers can access real-time occupancy information about a particular space or building, and use this data to make informed decisions for people’s safety and the benefit of the business. For a more in-depth look at what people counting solutions are, you can read one of our previous blogs about them.
How can retailers benefit from people-counting solutions?
Individual retailers, shopping centers and retail precincts can use people counting devices as they offer valuable insights into footfall and shoppers’ behavior in historical and real-time analytics. These sensors are beneficial for multiple reasons, which we will look at in more detail.
Understanding customer behavior
People counting data provides valuable information about the retailer’s customers. This includes how many customers walk through the door, how long they stay, conversion rates, what days are busiest, and if the weather, or other factors, impact how many people are shopping on a specific day.
Data about visitor behavior is also important for understanding the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, which can then be used to make other marketing decisions and implement other business strategies to maximize sales.
It is also useful to know data in relation to the particular areas of a retail outlet that receive the most visitors, and the days and times that these visits take place.
Informed decision-making
For decision-makers in the business, this data can be used to make essential decisions about attracting new customers, optimal opening hours, staffing timetables and other plans. For shopping mall owners, the data can make informed decisions about security and maintenance services, enticing new brands, visitors and other vital points. With live occupancy data and occupancy alerts are available, on-the-spot decisions can be made, if necessary, by retail managers.
Cost reductions
People counting solutions play a significant role in helping businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs.
Through understanding occupancy data, decision-makers can allocate staff accordingly, link heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems to the building management system (BMS) for more efficient use of resources, and schedule maintenance depending on foot traffic. Managing these three aspects well can substantially impact a business’s costs and energy usage.
However, for retail stores to reap the benefits of occupancy counting devices, the systems they implement must be accurate, reliable and GDPR compliant. In the final section, we will introduce Terabee’s People Counting Solutions, which offer outstanding levels of reliability.
Terabee people counting solutions
Terabee offers world-class People Counting Solutions that provide business and building owners with a wealth of benefits. From reducing costs to using resources more efficiently, people sensors offer valuable analytical data that can support business decisions and increase sales.
People Counting L-XL
The Terabee People Counting L-XL system was designed to be used over wide entrances or corridors. It provides 98%+ counting accuracy and is GDPR compliant, keeping peoples’ identities anonymous while offering you vital information about their shopping behaviors. Two product variations allow transmission of the data via Power over Ethernet or LoRaWAN.
This device is easy to configure and install on high ceilings. As well the Terabee People Counting L-XL fits any kind of wide indoor entrance, up to 15 meters in a multi-device setup.
People Counting M
The People Counting M system is suitable for single doorways and narrow passages, offering 95% or higher accuracy and complying with GDPR. It’s an easy-to-install, cost-effective people sensor often used to support resource and maintenance allocation.
We have produced a Q&A page for our counting systems, but if you want more information or are interested in making a purchase, get in touch with us today!
