In the competitive world of retail, every customer interaction and every square meter of floor space counts. Large-format retail, pharmacy and DIY chains face a crucial challenge: fighting shrinkage effectively while improving the customer experience. The scale of the problem is considerable: according to a National Retail Federation study, shoplifting incidents jumped by 93% between 2019 and 2023.

Today, technology offers an innovative answer by combining artificial intelligence for the detection of at-risk gestures with business intelligence tools such as heatmaps and customer counting.

This synergy is revolutionizing risk management and customer insight, giving retail chains powerful solutions to stay competitive.

Proactive in-store shoplifting detection with AI

Traditional video systems often react after the incident, which limits their effectiveness in prevention. AI-based solutions, such as those from Oxania, are a major breakthrough, enabling real-time detection of at-risk gestures through detailed image analysis. In practice, the alert is sent automatically in under 10 seconds, with no human intervention, and your team decides what happens next.

In the face of the significant rise in shoplifting, this proactive approach makes it possible to step in immediately when a theft is attempted, thereby minimizing losses while keeping the customer experience smooth.

Non-intrusive and customizable, these interventions adapt to the context to strengthen security without ever affecting shopping comfort. This makes it possible to:

  • Alert immediately the security teams in the event of a theft attempt.
  • Reduce losses without disturbing customers.
  • Adapt interventions to the context, with tact and efficiency.

Built-in business intelligence: heatmaps and customer counting

Intelligent detection is only one lever among others. By combining AI with business intelligence tools such as heatmaps and customer counting, retail chains turn interactions into strategic data. As highlighted in McKinsey's retail analyses, retailers that adopt a data-driven approach see significant gains in operational performance.

These technologies make it possible to observe footfall patterns and identify the key zones of the store, improving day-to-day decision-making.

Thanks to this analysis, it becomes possible to optimize customer journeys, fine-tune the layout of aisles and strengthen operational efficiency in an agile and relevant way.

Concrete benefits for retail chains

  • Identify the hot zones of the store, where customers spend the most time.
  • Analyze customer counts to better organize aisles and improve traffic flow.
  • Optimize staff schedules according to peak footfall.
  • Measure the impact of marketing actions or layout changes on footfall.

Security and customer experience: a data-driven synergy

Combining AI detection with business intelligence creates a virtuous circle between protection and customer experience. Identifying the products and zones most exposed to shrinkage can also reveal opportunities to improve ergonomics or product visibility.

This dual perspective allows retail chains to act with precision, strengthening security while offering visitors a more intuitive and pleasant journey. People remain the final decision-makers: after receiving an AI alert, it is always the in-store team (manager or security officer) who decides what action to take. Organizations such as the Loss Prevention Research Council are also studying how this complementarity between technology and human expertise optimizes loss prevention.

Decisions are no longer based on hunches, but on concrete, actionable data, increasing the overall efficiency of the store.

  • Reduce shrinkage without burdening the security setup.
  • Offer a smoother, more personalized experience.
  • Make informed decisions based on concrete data, not hunches.

Oxania: integrated AI and analytics for retail

Oxania offers a complete solution, designed to integrate easily with stores' existing infrastructure. Cutting-edge AI dedicated to gesture detection comes with an intuitive BI interface, enabling precise management without complexity. This complementarity between AI and security staff is at the heart of the approach.

This means retail chains can access key information in real time, better manage their commercial environment and anticipate risks.

With Oxania, the entire management of risk and customer experience gains in responsiveness, fluidity and peace of mind.

In summary

Adopting an AI theft detection solution enhanced by business intelligence tools is about much more than ensuring the security of a store.

It also means embracing a dynamic of continuous optimization, where data becomes the main lever to better understand, anticipate and innovate.

This modern, agile and performance-oriented approach allows retail chains to successfully meet today's challenges and prepare for the future with confidence.