Georgia Retailer Reduces Shrinkage with Hikvision Fisheye, Panoramic ColorVu and People Counting Cameras
Central Management via HikCentral VMS Heightens Visibility, Analytics, for Theft Reduction and Marketing
Retailer Only Options, Perfect Settings, and R.L. Martin located in Valdosta, GA, houses men’s and women’s apparel and home goods in three separate departments. The store owners approached Hikvision systems integrator, Robert Westberry of Guardian Technologies & Security, to consult with them on solutions to enhance their store security and marketing analytics.
Westberry’s experience on numerous customer sites across Georgia and Florida gave him the perfect insights to help them. Instead of putting a large number of cameras in the front of the building for perimeter protection, he recommended 180-degree Hikvision panoramic cameras with ColorVu. These cameras enable 24/7 full-color video and images, while their panoramic capabilities enable users to see more with fewer cameras.
Only Options owner, Devan Martin, also indicated that aesthetics were very important to them. The ColorVu cameras are only available in white, but Guardian Technologies was able to partner with the Hikvision team to find a way to paint them black. This enabled the cameras to provide panoramic security and match the retailer’s aesthetic.
"We are thrilled with how the new security system is functioning for us. We now have many new capabilities that have created better efficiency and safety in our three stores. The service that Guardian Technologies provided was exceptional, and we highly recommend this specific security system with Guardian as the provider," said Martin.
High resolution 12 MP fisheye cameras were also deployed to provide a broad, dynamic view of each store department. Hikvision fisheye cameras enable comprehensive video security and heat mapping. Heat mapping technology offers retailers a color-coded thermal map that details the amount of time shoppers spend in specific areas. This data can help retailers optimize marketing efforts for displays, to place merchandise in the areas where consumers spend the most amount of time.
Fisheye cameras were paired with intelligent people counting cameras at each of the three front entrances and in the six areas connecting the store’s departments.
“We were excited to provide Only Options with an intelligent video security system that gave them additional data to better market and run their retail location. I asked them, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to know how many people come in each day and which door they come through [i.e. men’s, women’s, or home décor]?’ That’s when we suggested people counting cameras to help them better assess how the foot traffic was flowing,” said Guardian’s Westberry. He added that the “heat mapping 360-camera with body heat signatures helps them adjust displays based on where people are spending time in the store. Management can easily pull up analytics, and if they discover certain days of the week are slower than others, they can also adjust their staffing levels accordingly. Heat mapping offers great added value for retailers.”
Additionally, Hikvision Value IP Mini Dome cameras are used throughout the store for additional visibility. To round out the comprehensive system, Only Options is also using the HikCentral video management system (VMS) 64-channel base with Hikvision M-Series NVRs to track business intelligence and people counting analytics.
The complete Hikvision system installed by Guardian Technologies with a mix of panoramic cameras, heat mapping technology, and people counting has delivered advanced analytics to support Only Options’ efficiency and operations.