Following successful in-store trials, audio and visual content specialist Retail-AI has unveiled a CCTV-driven artificial intelligence (AI) package to combat underage sales, proxy purchasing and unnecessary queueing, and it plans to release an anti-theft package in the new year, following beta-testing in a number of Premier concept stores.
The anti-theft package will involve CCTV cameras analysing shopper behaviour and alerting staff to suspected shoplifting activity, whilst activating real-time in-store audio warnings to deter the would-be thief. The firm is currently analysing shopper behaviour at a selection of stores so that the AI tech can accurately identify suspicious activity, after which the system will be trialled before it launches next year.
Meanwhile, the firm’s first AI CCTV package combines ‘AgeSense, Proxy Purchasing & Q-Bust’ modules. After beta-testing in multiple Premier concept stores over the last quarter of 2023, Retail-AI has scheduled the three camera, three module product release for January 2024. The system identifies ‘under 25s’ entering a store and helps to prevent underage alcohol sales by using audio warnings. It uses anonymised data from live CCTV to manage ‘Age Appropriate Advert Selection’ rules at the main servers and triggers onsite Challenge 25, Drinkaware and/or Police Scotland’s ‘Don’t Ask for it’ Proxy Purchasing audio warnings in real-time. The module also detects when under-25s enter an alcohol zone, which will trigger ID prompts, as well as audio warnings.
The Proxy module tracks any ‘over 25s’ interacting with ‘under 25s’ outside the store and, if that adult subsequently enters an alcohol aisle or beer-cave, triggers ’Don’t Ask for it’ Proxy Purchasing warnings.
The Q-Bust component can detect queue numbers at the store counter and when they reach a predefined limit, it makes an audio announcement encouraging customers to use self-serve tills, in order to keep queues to a minimum.
Convenience Awards finalist Girish’s Premier in Barmulloch, Glasgow, was one of 10 stores to trial the age-related sales and Q-bust package. Owner Girish Jeeva said: “It works like magic!” The store is also taking part in the anti-theft tech testing.
Retail-AI, which also operates bespoke in-store radio for numerous c-stores, explained that its age-related package was “the first in a series of modular CCTV-driven AI packages for retail that demonstrates increased compliance, staff safety, store security, site efficiency, and improvements in the customer experience”.
The starting price for Retail-AI products is £29.99.
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