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Data-driven technologies that retail store managers and shopping center owners/operators can leverage to make strategic business decisions.

Our VP of Retail Sales Tracy Benaman discusses how AI is transforming retail stores and QSRs and their ability to drive sales in real time.

Real-time alerts empower operators to respond proactively and dynamically to developing situations. Read about the five different types of alerts here.

Transform Existing Video Camera Infrastructure into Real-Time Alerts Generators

Organizations today are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to make their operations more efficient and productive than ever. These AI platforms enable businesses to make data-driven decisions based on the combination of structured and unstructured databases.  

Structured data refers to data that can be easily entered into a row and column oriented database structures. Whereas, unstructured data doesn’t fit into a spreadsheet. It is available in the form of complex data formats, such as emails, web pages, and social media pages.  

Businesses can easily derive information from their existing video camera infrastructure by implementing video analytics software. Deep North helps enterprises leverage their existing cameras and transform video footage into actionable insights, using pragmatic AI and computer vision.  

As a customer success manager at Deep North and having partnered with large retailers and shopping centers in deploying Computer Vision solutions, one thing I’ve noticed is that businesses could gain a lot by utilizing the full potential of the real-time alert capability. Real-time alerting capabilities are driven by computer vision and AI that allows businesses to monitor events as they happen. It enables businesses to proactively respond to any situational changes in their physical property.

Customers using real time alerts are not only seeing a quick ROI but also improved customer experience, safety, and security. 
 

Configure Different Types of Real-time Alerts With Video Analytics

From Reactive to Proactive 

Cameras are pretty much everywhere nowadays. But many organizations are still using them more reactively, meaning that only after a certain situation has arisen, security or people with access to the recorded feed would review the footage to determine what happened.  

Besides, most malls and neighborhood centers have a lot of cameras which makes it practically impossible for security personnel to effectively monitor all of them. With help from our real–time alert system, we can identify issues and proactively bring up the cameras with these views for security to review. Thus, immediately transforming security capabilities from looking for a needle in a haystack to showing them where the needle could be.

It makes it a lot simpler for businesses to keep their property safe and secure and get better ROI in terms of service and cost savings.  

This is where I see real-time alerts going. Now to help you understand better, let me give you a few examples. You will know how real-time alerts empower operators to respond proactively and dynamically to developing situations.

Different Types of Real-Time Alerts

1. Occupancy Alerts

Many countries and cities have strict restrictions on the number of people that could be inside the store or property. 

Typically, you will see a person standing outside the store, manually counting the number of people entering and exiting. All the other entrances and exits are closed, so they have only one entry and exit point. 

But with the occupancy alert, as long as the cameras cover the entrances, we can determine the occupancy of that facility and generate alerts either in a zone or for the entire property. 

So if the occupancy limit is about to reach, the system can send out warning alerts followed by the final alert when it is full. In fact, it can be put into the display so that the person can immediately know whether they can allow the visitors in or not. 

Again, the store or facility manager can open all the other entrances and exits they have, as people counting can be done through an automated system.

2. Parking Management System Alert

Generally, you would find properties having time limits for the parking slot. The security person marks the tires with chalks to track how long a car has been parked. But with so many parking spots having different time limits, monitoring each slot can be difficult manually.

This is why there is a need for digitization of parking facilities. Using cameras, you can essentially know when the car is coming, how long it has stayed there, and when it has gone out. 

If we map it to our Deep North AI platform, we can send out parking alerts in real-time. In fact, we can even send out multiple alerts in different intervals for triggered actions. 

You can now easily avoid disputes by preventing unauthorized parking and enhance your customer experience while making the job easier for your guards. 

3. Restricted Zone Alerts

Video analytics platforms can also configure an alert based on object appearance on a specific area. For instance, there is only a certain number of people allowed to go to a particular zone. 

But when more people are dwelling than expected in a certain area, an alert can be sent to make the security staff aware and respond quickly.

Similarly, when there are types of vehicles that shouldn’t be dwelling in an area, an alert can be configured for the same. Dwelling or loitering can indicate an intent to commit a crime, especially when people are lingering in areas that have the entrance to a valuable inventory store or other facilities. 

Clearly, these real-time alerts can be used from a safety and security perspective. You can detect suspicious behavior and prevent breakdowns or robbery, protecting lives and property damage.

4. Restroom Alerts

Rightfully said that “clean restrooms are good for your business.” 

Typically, you do a cleaning service at a regular time. But with real-time alerts, you only service the restroom when let’s say, 200 people, have used the restroom. You don’t need to clean it if the number is less than that.

One benefit of it is that if, in a shorter time, more people have gone and used the restroom, you need to service the restroom and clean it before the vetted time. Again, if not many people have used the restroom, there’s no need to clean it unnecessarily. 

Computer Vision solutions can also be tailormade to provide handwashing alerts by placing cameras over sinks to ensure staff are washing hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. This is especially useful for restaurants where food safety is a priority.

So that way, malls, apartments, or any other property can do service when required rather than at any specified times. Restroom alerts are based on the intelligence of the usage of that particular restroom of the particular area. 

5. Trash Management Alerts

If you have trash in your neighborhood, you don’t want your customers to look at overflowing cans. Trigger real-time alerts when the trash can is full so that the service person can go in there and empty the bin. 

This helps your service person avoid going there at regular rounds to look for trash bins and service them when it is not full. 

Many properties also hire commercial trash and recycling services to take care of the waste management in the neighborhood. However, every time the agency comes in to empty the bin, there’s a cost attached to it. 

That’s why it is essential to have the service done only when it is full. If you have the intelligence that helps you detect when the trash is about to get full and sends out an alert, you can notify the service team. 

Instead of using the service every day, you can use the service only once in three days. 

Digitize Your Property With Pragmatic AI

Not just analytics, organizations can use computer vision and AI platforms for triggering alerts. 

Real-time alerts help businesses increase their work productivity and operational efficiency by optimizing their staff usage time. Besides, they can send staff as needed to enhance the customer experience. 

Deep North enables businesses to configure and create different types of alerts based on their needs. We listen to our customers and based on the issues they face, we come up with solutions using their cameras and our analytics system to create these alerts. 

To learn more about how Deep North is helping businesses maximize the value of their existing infrastructure, schedule a demo with us.  

Watch how we are transforming Retail and Shopping with Computer Vision

Watch this panel discussion to hear our CEO Rohan Sanil converse with NVIDIA leaders and other startup founders on how computer vision technology is transforming the retail industry.

The future of brick-and-mortar retailers is pragmatic AI. Deep North is building products that customers want, not ones we think they want. Read to know more.

Not long ago, our CEO Rohan Sanil joined the panel at the weekly hosted podcast, Retail Refined, along with two other prominent industry leaders.

Melissa Gonzalez, the host of the podcast Retail Refined, leads the discussion around the new normal for the retail sector and beyond. She is the founder of The Lionesque Group, an award-winning firm of retail strategists and pop-up architects.

In this podcast, Rohan was joined by Radius8 CEO and Founder Sandeep Bhanote and Pilot Consulting Founder Ken Pilot as they explored the challenges of retailers Post-COVID era and how technology will transform the physical space.