Business Intelligence Analytics for Retail & Business Operations

Earlier this week, we discussed how video analytics are widely used for security purposes in the video conversation between Joe Veiga and Tom Fontana. Click here for that video.

Analytical data generated by IP cameras is being used for business operations unrelated to security.

Retailers, and any business, that want to know what activity is taking place in their location, can rely on metadata generated by their IP surveillance cameras to count people, measure traffic flow, and analyze shopping behaviors of their customers and guests.

Business uses

This is particularly important to brick and mortar retailers as they attempt to close the business intelligence gap with online retailers.

Retail businesses may want to know:

• How many people came into my business this week?
• What areas of my store are busier than other areas?
• How many people use the dressing rooms?
• When do I need to open additional checkout lanes?
• Where do I need to position staff to best serve customers?
• How can merchandising improvements increase customer engagement?

Data collection

Business owners gain this data through the IP cameras in the store that now have a dual purpose: security video surveillance and in-store analytics, making the overall IP camera system not only a security requirement, but also a business growth tool.

The metadata is compiled separate from the video recordings within the IP camera and is made available in a cloud-based web interface for evaluation. Management can study merchandising strategies and measure them with very specific KPI's based on the in-store analytics.

Customer privacy

All of this is done with complete customer anonymity in order to protect privacy. Anonymous position data used for in-store analytics is generated inside of each IP camera, separate from the video recordings used for security operations. In-store analytics data is sent to the Bosch cloud while video recordings remain local at the store location.

Consider other business uses: 

• Zoo operators may want to know which exhibits are capturing visitors' attention and which are not
• Hospital administrators may want to evaluate the layout of their lobby or emergency department waiting room
• Universities may want to evaluate library or gymnasium traffic patterns
• Fitness center operators may want to know which machines are being least used in order to maximize desirable equipment in limited space
• Hotels may want to understand how their lobby layout impacts shopping and restaraunt visibility

Tom Fontana and Joe Veiga give a brief overview of the video analytics concept as related to security operations:

Video Surveillance - Live Viewing Operations

Video analytics are used for both live video monitoring and forensic investigation of previously recorded video. For live video, analytics can bring attention to unauthorized behaviors occuring on your property. This helps reduce the number of monitors required for an operator to view, which is critical as the number of cameras in a common surveillance system is rapidly increasing. Nick Hoyt covered this topic in a recent video related to command and operations center design. 

Video Surveillance - Recorded Video Investigation

As the IP security camera is capturing and recording video, it's also capturing metadata. This metadata is stored along with the video for future use or business operations analysis. The stored metadata allows investigators to apply the same analytics rules to previously recorded video, thus reducing investigation time.

Learn more about Bosch IP Camera Analytics

Intelligent Video Analytics (PDF)

Essential Video Analytics (PDF) 

Video Analytics Video (YouTube)

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