With over 85% of retail sales happening in physical stores compared to online, traditional retailers are using new ways to track product performance and understand customer behaviour in real time using advancements in technology. By adopting innovative solutions, such as LiDAR technology and retail analytics tools, traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are redefining the way customers interact with their products and brand, and in so doing, transforming the in-store experience into an interactive journey.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote-sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure distances to objects by calculating the time it takes for the emitted light to reflect back from surfaces. When utilised in physical retail environments, LiDAR sensors track customer movement patterns, including how long customers linger near specific products or displays, the flow of foot traffic within the store, and peak engagement times in particular areas by detecting proximity and movement.
Moving Tactics’ Interactive LiDAR Solution enhances customer interaction by creating a 2D, 360° virtual detection surface. Within this area, retailers can define activation zones that trigger specific events, such as displaying product information or promotional content on nearby display screens when a customer approaches or engages with a product. This allows retailers to craft interactive, immersive spaces throughout the store, thereby transforming the overall shopping experience.
By integrating LiDAR sensors with Sensmi – a real-time data analytics platform that transforms data from multiple sources into actionable insights via a cloud dashboard – this solution enriches the data available to brick-and-mortar retailers, providing deeper and more expansive insights into customer behaviours and preferences, bridging the gap between online and traditional retail.
By tracking various key performance indicators (KPIs) such as traffic, opportunities to see, dwell time, and convergence, retailers can measure the performance of a retail section. Additionally, by tracking engagement, interaction time, and conversion rates, this integration provides valuable insights into product interactions. When analysed, these insights can help retailers identify popular products and areas, improving product placement and store layout. By understanding which products attract the most attention, retailers can tailor promotions and optimise marketing strategies to enhance visibility and create engaging, interactive in-store customer journeys, ultimately enriching the overall in-store experience and driving sales.
To learn more about Moving Tactics Interactive Lidar Solution and Retail Analytics Solutions, please get in touch or schedule a showroom visit at our offices in Cape Town or Johannesburg.