[SOLVED] Need to analyze in-shop behavior of a specific area, any budget option?

[9127smwn]

Hi new here. I'm working for a regional food retail company, and we're now planning to apply self-checkout system in our new grocery store. It's a experimental project and if it works well we're gonna expand it to other branches as well. The store's currently using a smart system to prevent theft by security cameras.

We now wondering if we can use it to also analyze the behavior of the customers that are using the self-checkout system so that we can understand if the self-checkout system is a must-have or not. The security system is called Hikvision. Seems like a big one in this industry.

We've contacted the integrator and they offered BriefCam solution to meet our requirements. However the cost is quite high. Are there any other solutions that can also do the behavior analytics, such as dwelling time counting, people age/gender from the camera's view on top? We need a budget option to push this project faster. Thank you!

 

[Ralston18]

What is your budget?

The starting point would be to establish some sort of ROI (Return on Investment) analysis.

In other words determine how much the money the self-checkout system will cost the store versus how much money will be saved by customers doing the work and being monitored to limit theft.

Most likely there will be several ways of making such comparisons/analyses and you would end up with some consensus value. Very likely that the ROI process will change and evolve as you learn and other considerations or factors appear.

For the most part any integrator or similar company should be able to offer and document ROI figures based on stores of similar size and location.

There may also be local codes and laws regarding recording and capturing customer behavior. Activities that many people now consider as "private information" even if the information does not personally identify them.

Obtain, if possible, three or four proposals on installing the required/desired system. You must know what you want to some degree. Likely you requirements will change as you learn and environmental/location details are addressed.

Be very specific about those requirements (as best you can) and look for ways to quantify that each requirement is being met. Be able to measure "success" or "failure" however defined.

Document the requirements as a "Request for Proposals" and send the document to the applicable companies.

Submit your requirements to the potential installers and specify how you want their responses to be formatted.

Ask about itemized costs: up front/installation, maintenance, fees, repairs, insurance, warranties, reports/analytics, etc. - no "hidden" costs.

And be sure to ask what happens or must happen if theft is found.... If you cannot stop the theft, prosecute and recover the losses - all ins likely moot.

Good customers will not steal even with a monitoring system. Bad guys - grab and run now. By the bags full.

Hopefully the companies will contact you for more information and maybe even an on site visit.

Also, since there are going to be contractual agreements or other agreements for that matter (non-disclosure for example) you should also have legal counsel available and involved. Before sending out anything.

Just my thoughts on the matter. There may be other ideas and suggestions as well.

 

[9127smwn]

What is your budget?

The starting point would be to establish some sort of ROI (Return on Investment) analysis.

In other words determine how much the money the self-checkout system will cost the store versus how much money will be saved by customers doing the work and being monitored to limit theft.

Most likely there will be several ways of making such comparisons/analyses and you would end up with some consensus value. Very likely that the ROI process will change and evolve as you learn and other considerations or factors appear.

For the most part any integrator or similar company should be able to offer and document ROI figures based on stores of similar size and location.

There may also be local codes and laws regarding recording and capturing customer behavior. Activities that many people now consider as "private information" even if the information does not personally identify them.

Obtain, if possible, three or four proposals on installing the required/desired system. You must know what you want to some degree. Likely you requirements will change as you learn and environmental/location details are addressed.

Be very specific about those requirements (as best you can) and look for ways to quantify that each requirement is being met. Be able to measure "success" or "failure" however defined.

Document the requirements as a "Request for Proposals" and send the document to the applicable companies.

Submit your requirements to the potential installers and specify how you want their responses to be formatted.

Ask about itemized costs: up front/installation, maintenance, fees, repairs, insurance, warranties, reports/analytics, etc. - no "hidden" costs.

And be sure to ask what happens or must happen if theft is found.... If you cannot stop the theft, prosecute and recover the losses - all ins likely moot.

Good customers will not steal even with a monitoring system. Bad guys - grab and run now. By the bags full.

Hopefully the companies will contact you for more information and maybe even an on site visit.

Also, since there are going to be contractual agreements or other agreements for that matter (non-disclosure for example) you should also have legal counsel available and involved. Before sending out anything.

Just my thoughts on the matter. There may be other ideas and suggestions as well.

Thank you for such detailed description and advice! I'll definitely keep them in mind!

 

[js10z]

The company I work for resells SkyREC www.skyrec.cc , it's basically video management software plus video analytics function. I also know BriefCam, I think it's similar to SkyREC but I believe it's more expensive? But yeah I think you should do more research to really know what you need.