Shopper tracking is the process of collecting data about the movements and behaviors of shoppers within a physical store. This data can be used to improve the customer experience, increase sales, and optimize store layout.
There are many different types of shopper tracking, but some of the most common include:
- Wi-Fi tracking: This involves using Wi-Fi signals to track the movements of shoppers within a store. This can be done by using a customer’s smartphone or tablet, or by using a network of Wi-Fi sensors installed in the store.
- RFID tracking: This involves using RFID tags to track the movements of products within a store. RFID tags are small chips that can be attached to products or embedded in them. When a product with an RFID tag passes by an RFID reader, the reader can identify the product and track its movements.
- Video tracking: This involves using video cameras to track the movements of shoppers within a store. This can be done by using cameras that are strategically placed in the store, or by using cameras that are mounted on drones or other mobile devices.
- Heat mapping: This involves using heat maps to visualize the movements of shoppers within a store. Heat maps are created by tracking the number of people who visit different areas of the store. This information can be used to identify the areas of the store that are most popular with shoppers and the areas that need improvement.
- Beacons: This involves using beacons to send notifications to shoppers’ smartphones. Beacons are small devices that emit Bluetooth signals. When a shopper’s smartphone comes within range of a beacon, the beacon can send a notification to the smartphone. This notification can be used to provide shoppers with information about products, discounts, or promotions.
- Customer loyalty programs: This involves collecting data about shoppers’ purchases and behaviors. This data can be used to track shoppers’ preferences and to target them with personalized marketing messages.
- Surveys: This involves asking shoppers questions about their shopping experiences. This data can be used to improve the customer experience and to identify areas where the retailer can improve.
- Exit surveys: This involves asking shoppers questions about their reasons for leaving the store. This data can be used to identify areas where the retailer can improve and to prevent customers from leaving the store.
- Social media monitoring: This involves tracking what people are saying about the retailer on social media. This data can be used to identify areas where the retailer can improve and to respond to customer complaints.
- Chatbots: This involves using chatbots to interact with shoppers online. Chatbots can be used to answer customer questions, provide product recommendations, and collect data about shoppers’ preferences.
The decision of which types of shopper tracking to use will vary depending on the store, the products that are sold, and the goals of the retailer. However, all retailers can benefit from using some form of shopper tracking to improve the customer experience and increase sales.
Here are some of the benefits of shopper tracking:
- Improved customer experience: Shopper tracking can be used to identify areas of the store that are confusing or frustrating for shoppers. This information can be used to make changes to the store layout or signage to improve the customer experience.
- Increased sales: Shopper tracking can be used to identify products that are popular with shoppers and to target those products with marketing messages. This can lead to increased sales.
- Optimized store layout: Shopper tracking can be used to identify areas of the store that are not being used efficiently. This information can be used to make changes to the store layout to improve efficiency and sales.
Shopper tracking can be a controversial topic, but it is a powerful tool that can be used to improve the customer experience and increase sales. If you are a retailer, we encourage you to consider using some form of shopper tracking to improve your business.
We hope this blog post was informative. Let us know if you have any other questions.
