28 Jan 2010

CCTV surveillance at retail stores results in fewer thefts and robberies 
Retailers can improve image quality with IP systems
A survey by the Swedish Retail Institute that has been conducted on behalf of the Swedish Trade Federation in cooperation with Axis Communications, highlights three issues why retailers benefit from network video.

Shop owners experience fewer thefts and robberies, and increased staff security. According to the survey, 66% of those who have installed surveillance said they feel the security for staff has increased, and more than half have experienced a reduction in theft, robbery and shoplifting.

Retailers can improve image quality with IP systems instead of analogue systems. Three out of ten shop owners indicated poor image quality as a negative effect of video surveillance. Of these, 70% have analogue cameras in their systems. Analogue cameras provide significantly lower resolution and lower quality of recorded material than today's digital cameras.

Retailers are interested in creating business value through optimised merchandising and operations. Functions such as footfall analysis and heat maps can identify the most crowded areas in a shop and identify how long people spend in certain areas. With this type of information the business is in a better position to manage the flow of people, which can help increase customer satisfaction and create more effective product positioning.