System tracks in-store customer density to prevent COVID spread

A new platform helps retailers monitor their customer numbers in real-time, in order to protect their shops against the coronavirus

Spotted: Sensomatic Solutions, the retail solutions portfolio of sustainable building tech developer Johnson Controls, has announced the release of a suite of COVID-19 solutions for retailers. One of the most innovative offerings is ShopperTrak, which helps retailers to determine customer density in real-time.

By now, scientists are clear that the biggest risk for catching COVID-19 comes from not wearing a mask, and from being in close proximity to others indoors. The challenge for retailers is in how to determine when there is an unsafe number of shoppers in a store – especially since people tend to move around shops. 

ShopperTrak allows retailers to keep track of store occupancy in real-time. The system can monitor compliance with social distancing guidelines and advises security teams when maximum occupancy levels have been reached. It can also establish the right cleaning schedule for high touch areas and common areas, to ensure these places remain safe and provide a consistent customer experience.

Bjoern Petersen, president of Sensormatic Solutions, explains: “As retailers face their new reality as a result of COVID-19, we believe that the industry needs to begin to restore consumer confidence, and that starts with helping to ensure the store is a safe environment. Never before has there been a greater need for retailers to be equipped with the right technology along with real-time insights to make business-critical decisions.”

There has been no shortage of innovations aimed at helping retailers to weather the COVID-19 storm and create shopping areas. At Springwise, we have recently covered a mobile queueing platform that allows customers to line up without lining up and voice-ordering kiosks to limit in-store contact.

Explore more: Retail Innovations | COVID-19 Innovations