In a landscape where losses due to theft heavily impact retailers' profitability, it's crucial to adopt security solutions that are both preventative, intelligent, and predictive . For a long time, security gates have been the primary defence against unauthorised merchandise removal. But today, artificial intelligence brings a new dimension to loss prevention.
🚪 Gates: Reactive but Limited Protection
Security gates play an important role: they detect deactivated or stolen items at the point of exit . They are visible, easy for customers to understand, and provide an effective form of deterrence. However, their effectiveness relies on the correct placement of tags or security devices, and they only intervene at the end of the journey , once the act of theft has already occurred.
In other words, gates are useful but act as a last resort. They don't allow for the detection of suspicious behaviours upstream nor do they prevent losses inside the store.
AI: A Proactive Vision for Security
Artificial intelligence, particularly video-assisted suspicious gesture detection , enables a radically different approach. Thanks to real-time analysis algorithms, AI can identify atypical or suspicious behaviours (such as concealment gestures, unusual movements, or abnormal interactions with products) long before the customer reaches the exit.
This type of technology, like that offered by Oxania , offers several advantages:
- ✅ Upstream prevention : incidents can be detected before they actually occur.
- 🎯 Fewer unnecessary interventions : AI reduces false alarms by focusing on significant gestures.
- 👥 Preserved customer experience : no feeling of intrusion, as the technology is discreet and non-invasive.
- 📊 Advanced analytics : collected data allows continuous optimisation of systems.
🔗 Intelligent Complementarity for 360° Protection
Rather than choosing between gates and AI, retailers have every interest in combining these two solutions . AI acts as a suspicious gesture radar inside the store, capable of spotting abnormal situations in real-time, while gates provide a final line of defence at the exit.
Together, they form a complete and coherent strategy:
- 🛒 In a supermarket, AI can detect suspicious behaviour in the aisles, while the gate validates the exit.
- 🧴 In a pharmacy, AI monitors sensitive areas (cosmetics, medications), where gates can't do anything.
- 🔧 In a DIY store, AI tracks movements in high-value aisles, while gates filter items equipped with RFID tags.
🚀 Conclusion: For Modern Security, Let's Bet on Intelligence
Gates have proven their worth, but the future of in-store security relies on an intelligent, anticipatory, and complementary approach . Integrating AI allows retailers to significantly reduce losses , while offering a fluid and respectful customer experience .
Oxania supports retailers in this transition towards augmented security, combining the power of artificial intelligence with existing systems. A modern, balanced, and effective vision to address tomorrow's challenges.
