Merchandising Security Customer Satisfaction. Business Intelligence for the. Retail Sector. V i d e o A n a l y t i c s

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1 Merchandising Security Customer Satisfaction Business Intelligence for the V i d e o A n a l y t i c s Retail Sector

2 VCA Technology video analytics is capable of multi-tasking. Depending on the field of view of a camera the software can generate reports with supporting video to provide merchandising, human resources, security and other operational departments with the information they need to achieve their objectives.

3 The availability of a new generation of affordable, easy to configure and easy to use video surveillance cameras equipped with VCA Technology video analytics software, has opened up the opportunity for retailers to gather reliable and verifiable data which can contribute to a greater understanding of the behaviour and buying patterns of customers. The business advantage which cameras equipped with VCA Technology s video analytics can provide is compelling. Every retail store will have its own set of challenges, but common to all is likely to be a desire to fully understand why a particular store is performing better than others and if specific marketing activities or promotions have been effective. VCA Technology s intelligent video analytics is able to make a significant and profitable contribution to finding out the answer to these crucial questions. Doing more with less staff, increasing customer satisfaction by minimising delays at check-outs and identifying the best times and locations for product promotions, are just a few of the goals which can be achieved with very little effort with the help of cameras featuring VCA Technology video analytics. Although ready to be used out-of-the-box, with minimal training, users can easily set-up the detection, tracking and reporting functions of the video analytics to reflect the way in which their particular store is operated, and then look forward to the generation of visually verified data to enable them to analyse the behaviour of customers from the moment they enter a store to when they leave. This data can provide an invaluable insight, for example, into how much time customers spend in particular aisles or how long they have to queue to pay for items. VCA Technology has an ongoing programme to integrate its video analytics with video management software in order to provide retailers with the flexibility to visually display the reports generated by VCA Technology s metadata in a format which matches their specific requirements. Integration has already been successfully achieved with Digiop, Exacq, Luxriot, Mirasys, VMS UK and Wavestore video management software*, as well as specialist software from retail specialists ClickIt.inc. Alerts can be generated automatically so that a store s management can react to a sudden influx of customers by allocating extra staff to checkouts before the customers arrive to pay. Integration with EPOS data enables even deeper analysis, such as looking at typical routes through the store for customers who buy particular types of products. The data can then be used to inform the placement of in-store promotions to target these specific customer groups.

4 How does it work? VCA Technology video analytics operates effectively with both indoor and outdoor cameras. In addition to contributing to a greater understanding of customer behaviour, the software can be used for a wide range of applications including intrusion detection, vehicle monitoring, abandoned object detection and loitering detection. It can even detect camera tampering and failure. Decide what you need to identify and measure, and then take advantage of the incredibly easy to use on-screen tools to set up the required detection lines and zones and create the criteria for the forensic reports. Easier to implement than you might think Multiple overlapping detection lines and zones can be designated to ensure that only specific activity is recorded. Direction of movement is defined so that the software only triggers when individuals or objects move in a particular direction across a zone, or when they move into a zone but not when they leave it. Filters provide the software with the ability to only detect people of a specified height and ignore for example, accompanying children. A rapid 'learning time' of just two seconds means that images are detected and classified almost instantaneously. VCA Technology video analytics automatically adapts to varying light conditions and in car parks, for example, can operate effectively even though cameras may be swaying due to windy conditions. The software can also be used to ensure Health and Safety compliance and is capable of indentifying potentially dangerous situations before they occur. Operators can be alerted, for example, when fire escapes are obstructed or when items are left in walkways.

5 Opportunities to increase sales and customer satisfaction Reports can be generated which show busy areas of a store, by hour or day of the week. Work smarter by being able to identify where to locate in-store promotions or reposition the most popular items, as well as providing an analysis of which areas may need additional staffing. Reports can be generated which show how much time customers spend in specific areas of a store. The criteria for each of these reports can easily be redefined at any time allowing users to drill down in minute detail to establish specific patterns of customer movement around a store. This valuable information can be used, for example, to measure the success of a specific promotion. The stored metadata can be retrieved at some future time and with alternative detection zones or lines specified, can be used to generate statistics and reports on some new area of activity. Data and video evidence can be captured to allow an analysis of how long customers have to queue at checkouts. Staff can be more effectively deployed so that the correct number of check-outs is open to ensure that customer goodwill is not lost by excessive waiting times. External camera domes equipped with VCA Technology video analytics are able to capture activity at the supermarket s delivery area providing logistical information, as well as identifying any potential thieves who have entered a restricted area. The camera domes can also be used to analyse vehicle movement to ensure best use of the supermarket s car parking areas, including zones allocated for the disabled. The bottom line With profits under pressure in a tough economic environment, it is perhaps understandable that capital expenditure will be restricted and that there will be a need to make a strong case to justify the replacement of any existing equipment. It is possible, however, to make a strong business case for replacing the existing cameras with those that have built-in intelligent video analytics. The profit contribution in terms of increased sales and customer loyalty, as well as providing security personnel with a powerful tool to minimise shrinkage, is likely to deliver a return on investment which could potentially be measured in weeks. Visit our website at:

6 About VCA Technology VCA Technology offers an affordable and scalable intelligent video analytics solution that can, if required, integrate seamlessly with an existing security system. Our mission is simple: To provide a highly reliable and accurate tracking engine To ensure our software is user friendly and intuitive To offer cost effective solutions which can be tailored to each individual customer s requirements. To provide installer and system integrators with reliable, robust and easy to install cameras backed up by VCA Technology s passion for providing the highest levels of pre- and post-sales support. A large number of manufacturers have adopted VCA Technology as their preferred video analytics provider and have integrated the software within their cameras and domes. Each manufacturer is able to offer the software in modular form to provide users with the option to only pay for the appropriate level of functionality as and when it is required. VCA Technology has sales and support offices in Europe, Asia and the USA. For more information on the cameras and domes which incorporate our video analytics please call: +44 (0) or us at: info@vcatechnology.com *Please info@vcatechnology.com for an up-to-date list of the video management software that has been integrated with VCA Technology s video analytics V i d e o A n a l y t i c s