In 2023, CGP retailers faced a staggering 7.4% loss in sales, amounting to $82 billion in missed revenue due to stock-outs. Alarmingly, 70-75% of these stock-outs were the result of flawed ordering and replenishment practices. However, image recognition (IR) technology is revolutionizing the retail sector, offering solutions that extend beyond merely addressing stock-outs. By leveraging visual data from retail environments, IR not only mitigates this issue but also enhances worker productivity, reduces shrinkage, and unlocks new avenues for sales growth. Let’s delve into how IR is transforming the brick-and-mortar retail landscape, addressing critical challenges with precision and efficiency.

Real-Time Out-of-Stock Monitoring

Image recognition technology is a critical tool for CTOs aiming to safeguard revenue and maintain customer loyalty. When a product SKU is missing from the shelf, IR software immediately alerts staff, prompting timely restocking and ensuring that revenue opportunities are not lost.

Revolutionizing Retail Audits

Traditional retail audits are notoriously inefficient and prone to inaccuracies, with error rates potentially reaching unacceptable levels. Implementing IR technology standardizes audits, delivering reliable and precise data. This data not only supports accurate inventory management but also provides insights into sales trends. Retailers can leverage these insights to strategically enhance the sales of priority SKUs by optimizing their shelf positioning.

Enhancing Self-Checkout & Payment Systems

Self-checkout has gained favor among consumers for its convenience and speed. By integrating IR technology, customers can present items to a camera, bypass barcode scans, and expedite payment processes. Cashier-less stores take this a step further with advanced IR systems from CCTV or cart cameras that automatically identify purchases. These systems offer multiple payment options, including smartphone apps, self-service kiosks, or palm scanning at store entrances, thereby enhancing the customer experience.

Analyzing Foot Traffic and Store Operations

IR software not only monitors store inventory but also tracks daily foot traffic with high precision. Analyzing this data provides valuable insights into store operations, helping identify the busiest sections of the store and optimizing layout and staffing accordingly.

Ensuring Planogram Compliance

Product placement significantly influences consumer purchasing decisions. IR technology ensures products are correctly positioned on shelves according to planograms. Object recognition algorithms scan shelves, categorize items by manufacturer, brand, or SKU, and compare the data against predefined planograms, alerting retailers to any discrepancies.

Transformative Use Cases of Image Recognition in Retail

Streamlined Catalog Organization

Automating catalog organization with IR technology simplifies product handling and location for potential buyers. For instance, grocery stores can use automated labeling to categorize products by attributes like “organic,” “gluten-free,” or “low-sodium.” This enhancement not only improves user experience but also boosts customer retention by offering a streamlined shopping experience.

Personalized Product Recommendations

Analyzing customer purchase behavior enables personalized product recommendations, reducing abandoned carts and increasing average order values. For example, Clarks, a shoe retailer, uses such recommendations to enhance customer engagement. Additionally, AI-powered IR assists customers in finding products by matching features from product images to those available in-store and online.

In-Store Virtual Try-Ons

Incorporating virtual try-ons in physical stores through intelligent mirrors allows customers to explore numerous items without physical contact, enhancing the shopping experience. Brands like Adidas have adopted these mirrors to streamline the try-on process and reduce return rates.

Ivy Mobility Image Recognition Solution- Ivy EYe

Ivy Mobility’s Image Recognition solution, Ivy Eye, offers an end-to-end platform designed to optimize retail operations. Here’s how Ivy Mobility’s solution can revolutionize your business:

Comprehensive Retail Execution

Ivy Mobility’s IR solution provides real-time insights into shelf conditions, enabling instant corrective actions. Whether it’s stock replenishment, planogram compliance, or promotion execution, Ivy Mobility ensures that every aspect of retail execution is optimized.

Enhanced Sales Force Productivity

By automating routine tasks such as shelf audits and stock monitoring, Ivy Mobility frees up your sales force to focus on higher-value activities. This leads to increased productivity and a more engaged workforce.

Superior Data Accuracy

Leveraging advanced algorithms, Ivy Mobility’s solution delivers unparalleled data accuracy. This ensures that decisions are based on reliable data, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing overall operational efficiency.

Scalable and Flexible

Ivy Mobility’s platform is designed to scale with your business. Whether you’re a niche CPG company or a global chain, the solution can be customized to meet your unique needs, ensuring that you always stay ahead of the competition.

Actionable Insights

With Ivy Mobility, you gain access to actionable insights that drive informed decision-making. From sales trends to customer behavior analytics, the platform provides a comprehensive view of your retail operations, empowering you to make strategic decisions that propel your business forward.

Transform your retail operations with Ivy Eye, Ivy Mobility’s Image Recognition solution. Our cutting-edge real-time image and video recognition technology offers unparalleled efficiency, accuracy, and speed. Gain instant access to actionable insights, empowering on-site decision-making. Optimize operations, enhance the customer experience, and future-proof your business with Ivy Eye’s innovative solutions.

Schedule a demo today to unlock the full potential of your brand.