Now that we have a better understanding of how the technology works, this week’s video focuses on how valuable real-time queuing and predictive data is communicated. The clip also addresses one of the most important questions retailers ask, “once we have the data, what can be done with it?” This is the fundamental question for retailers looking to improve customer service and build lasting customer loyalty.
Italian retail giant puts customer counting to the test and chooses Experian FootFall and Irisys
Market leading consumer behaviour analyst, Experian FootFall, has today announced that it has signed a deal to provide Italian beachwear, hosiery and lingerie giant, Calzedonia Group, with its advanced people counting service.
The appointment follows a rigorous selection process in which a number of competing systems, including Experian Footfall, were installed in three branches of Calzedonia. During the trial the company’s existing customer counting technology was also in place, enabling the business to make a clear like-for-like comparison.
Experian FootFall was the most accurate in counting, service and technology knowledge. As a result, the system was installed in Calzedonia’s flagship store in Verona, as well as a further 34 branches throughout Italy. Once in place the technology was again put through its paces to see how it would respond to different store layouts and customer behavior. The success of this exercise resulted in Experian Footfall supplying a further 540 stores in Italy, a pre order for 900 additional branches and an agreement to supply all of Calzedonia’s 2,500 European stores.
Calzedonia explained: “Customer counting is an integral part of our KPI strategy. We have invested considerable time and energy in identifying a partner with the right combination of technology, consultancy and international reach, whose product can be fully customised and integrated with our existing systems”.
“Experian FootFall’s software transmits data to the checkout in real time enabling the store manager to monitor conversion rates and other important KPI instantaneously. In addition, every evening the day’s trading information is relayed back to head office for analysis. This enables us to have a constant picture of how the business is performing and where changes need to be made.”
An integral part of the enabling technology will be delivered by Irisys passive infrared sensors, which are at the heart of customer flow intelligence systems currently installed in many thousands of shops, supermarkets, shopping malls, transport hubs, theatres and museums around the world.
Nick Pompa, COO Experian FootFall, explained: “Calzedonia has a fundamental understanding of the benefits that customer counting can deliver to its bottom line. We have worked together to deliver a package which enables the business to strengthen its consumer offering globally, through detailed, accurate and applicable customer analytics.”
Nicola Fagnoni, Italian Sales Manager Experian FootFall concluded: “We have been fully committed to this rigorous selection process from the outset, tailoring our software to ensure it meets every specification required by Calzedonia. This partnership is now well developed and we are excited about working together to ensure the successful roll-out of the technology throughout the remaining Calzedonia stores.”
Irisys COO Dr Ian Wilcock added “Irisys and Experian FootFall are celebrating a 10 year partnership this year and we are delighted to support them with this major client win. It’s a vote of confidence in both companies”
Experian FootFall is fitting out an average of 50 shops per month with a view to completing the 1,500 Italian branches of Calzedonia by 2012. Work on an international roll out has also begun.
Key facts
Market leading consumer behaviour analyst, Experian FootFall, has today announced that it has signed a deal to provide Italian beachwear, hosiery and lingerie giant, Calzedonia Group, with its advanced people counting service.
The appointment follows a rigorous selection process in which a number of competing systems, including Experian Footfall, were installed in three branches of Calzedonia. During the trial the company’s existing customer counting technology was also in place, enabling the business to make a clear like-for-like comparison.
Experian FootFall was the most accurate in counting, service and technology knowledge. As a result, the system was installed in Calzedonia’s flagship store in Verona, as well as a further 34 branches throughout Italy. Once in place the technology was again put through its paces to see how it would respond to different store layouts and customer behavior. The success of this exercise resulted in Experian Footfall supplying a further 540 stores in Italy, a pre order for 900 additional branches and an agreement to supply all of Calzedonia’s 2,500 European stores.
Calzedonia explained: “Customer counting is an integral part of our KPI strategy. We have invested considerable time and energy in identifying a partner with the right combination of technology, consultancy and international reach, whose product can be fully customised and integrated with our existing systems”.
“Experian FootFall’s software transmits data to the checkout in real time enabling the store manager to monitor conversion rates and other important KPI instantaneously. In addition, every evening the day’s trading information is relayed back to head office for analysis. This enables us to have a constant picture of how the business is performing and where changes need to be made.”
An integral part of the enabling technology will be delivered by Irisys passive infrared sensors, which are at the heart of customer flow intelligence systems currently installed in many thousands of shops, supermarkets, shopping malls, transport hubs, theatres and museums around the world.
Nick Pompa, COO Experian FootFall, explained: “Calzedonia has a fundamental understanding of the benefits that customer counting can deliver to its bottom line. We have worked together to deliver a package which enables the business to strengthen its consumer offering globally, through detailed, accurate and applicable customer analytics.”
Nicola Fagnoni, Italian Sales Manager Experian FootFall concluded: “We have been fully committed to this rigorous selection process from the outset, tailoring our software to ensure it meets every specification required by Calzedonia. This partnership is now well developed and we are excited about working together to ensure the successful roll-out of the technology throughout the remaining Calzedonia stores.”
Irisys COO Dr Ian Wilcock added “Irisys and Experian FootFall are celebrating a 10 year partnership this year and we are delighted to support them with this major client win. It’s a vote of confidence in both companies”
Experian FootFall is fitting out an average of 50 shops per month with a view to completing the 1,500 Italian branches of Calzedonia by 2012. Work on an international roll out has also begun.
Key facts
- Experian FootFall, has been appointed to provide Italian beachwear and hosiery giant, Calzedonia, with its advanced people counting solution
- The appointment follows a competitive selection process
- Irisys will provide passive infrared sensors as the counting technology
This week on our video segments looking at predictive checkout management, we examine how Irisys’ technology monitors the queues at checkout.
Last week we discussed the challenges retailers face when trying to balance customer service with managing labor costs.
Retailers across the globe are all facing the same challenge – how do you keep customers satisfied at checkout while simultaneously utilizing employee resources in the most cost-effective manner?
Labor costs consume an estimated 10 percent to 17 percent of retailers’ operating revenue. In this economy, retailers are seeking innovative solutions to manage costs while still delivering superior customer service. Enhanced control of labor cost is among the most valuable attributes that infrared people counting and intelligent checkout line management technologies can offer mass retailers.
The Retail Business Technology Expo at Earls Court this week was a big success. We had a constant stream of people talking to us about people counting and queue management, and we picked up several very strong leads from major retailers. Many visitors to our stand were people frustrated with their current beam or video-based people counting solutions and were quick to see the advantages that Irisys non-intrusive infrared based solutions offered.
Last month at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show, it was obvious that technology and the customer experience were the focus. It’s not just about having the most cutting edge tech, it’s how retailers use that technology to build customer loyalty and create a positive image for their business in an increasingly competitive market. We are at the point that if retailers do not make a concerted effort to use technology to improve customer service, they are going to find themselves left behind.
Last week at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City, we conducted an informal survey of nearly 100 retailers, vendors and suppliers to discover key areas for consumers in 2011. Unsurprisingly, “Fast Checkout” was listed as the most important customer service factor to consumers in 2011.
About Irisys
As a leading supplier of people counting sensors, we have over 20 years of experience and have deployed more than 500,000 units.
Our latest product, Vector 4D, is the most advanced people counter ever with innovative features such as staff detection and dwell time monitoring.
Combined with highly accurate counting algorithms, our people counters are used in many scenarios, such as retail analytics, supermarket queue management and space utilisation applications.
Ultimately, we provide our end-users with accurate and reliable data that can transform their business.
