Today’s shoppers expect to have connected interactions with brands and retailers, whether shopping online or in-store. As consumer behaviour trends remain at the forefront, brick-and-mortar retailers are utilising retail analytics tools and technologies, including presence sensors and touch buttons, to gain data-driven insights – enabling them to better fulfill customer expectations, boost customer engagement, increase sales, and elevate the in-store customer journey.

In a retail environment, presence sensors, usually placed within displays or attached to screens, monitor customer movements and interactions by measuring their proximity to a point of interest—from ‘traffic’ (farthest away) to ‘opportunity to see’ (closer) and ‘convergence’ (at the display). As customers approach, their ‘Level of Intention’ increases, triggering events like changes in sound, lighting, or screen content. For instance, brightening display lights as customers get closer can enhance engagement and draw them in.

In a touch button application, the customer’s intention differs from, say, that of a lift-and-learn display. When customers press a touch button, they seek specific information or actions, such as learning about a product or requesting assistance from staff. Additionally, touch buttons can enhance brand storytelling. For example, a display wall with multiple buttons can unveil milestones or narratives about the brand, creating an engaging experience.

Together, presence sensors and touch buttons attract and engage customers while delivering the right content at the right time, offering retailers valuable insights into customer behavior. By integrating these tools with Sensmi, a real-time data analytics platform that converts data from multiple sources into actionable insights via a cloud dashboard, Moving Tactics Retail Analytics Solutions (the official reseller of Sensmi in Southern Africa) allows traditional retailers to access analytical data and capabilities similar to those of online retailers.

For example, by analysing data on the number of people who pass by displays compared to those who engage with specific calls to action, retailers can make data-driven decisions, refine their strategies, and optimise in-store marketing efforts. This creates interactive in-store customer journeys that drive higher engagement and boost sales.

To learn more about Moving Tactics’ Retail Analytics Solutions, visit: https://movingtactics.co.za/retail-analytics/.