5 ms·

We can already see where in the store you are.

colechristensen 5y ago
But your clerks aren’t going to record every step i take for a decade inside your store and run algorithms to manipulate my brain into optimizing store outcomes.
- withinboredom 5y ago
  They already do this using security cameras. How do you think the manufacturers know which shelves and the placements of them to bid on?
  - dharmab 5y ago
    Also by tracking your phone's bluetooth and wireless radios! It's a bit fuzzy but useful enough to be generally actionable.
  - andrewxdiamond 5y ago
    This type of placement scoring is almost never done via security cameras. The CV and data storage costs required for that to work at scale would be enormous. It’s much easier and cheaper to just record what shelve/height/area products are placed in and reconcile that data with sales. The data will be more noisy, but you can capture so much more valuable information for the same investment. You can also usually apply the models in retrospect, since most larger chains already record where products are supposed to be. Cameras are really only used at corporate test stores in small numbers. Camera data is usually looked at manually and only focuses on a specific product or area.
    - mkr-hn 5y ago
      Relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planogram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planogram
- shrike 5y ago
  Absolutely they are. Nordstrom and Home Depot got called out for doing it 8 years ago - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/05/09/how-nordstrom-and-home-depot-use-wifi-to-spy-on-shoppers/?sh=13565a394362 https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/05/09/how-nords.... The technology has progressed significantly since then. I've worked on systems designed to send in-store customers custom, extremely time limited (< 1 hour) coupons based on where they are in the store and where they linger. Linger time being used as an indicator of purchase intent for a specific item. This does require that the customer has the store's app installed and running.
- dharmab 5y ago
  I remember seeing this demo five or six year ago. Not a theoretical or startup, but being actively tested in large retailers.
- relax88 5y ago
  Uhh.... we already do this: https://dnaspaces.cisco.com/ https://dnaspaces.cisco.com/
beamatronic 5y ago
The Target app has very convenient in-store routing on a store map. Turn-by-turn directions down each aisle to bring you to the Kleenex.

But your clerks aren’t going to record every step i take for a decade inside your store and run algorithms to manipulate my brain into optimizing store outcomes.

withinboredom 5y ago
They already do this using security cameras. How do you think the manufacturers know which shelves and the placements of them to bid on?
- dharmab 5y ago
  Also by tracking your phone's bluetooth and wireless radios! It's a bit fuzzy but useful enough to be generally actionable.
- andrewxdiamond 5y ago
  This type of placement scoring is almost never done via security cameras. The CV and data storage costs required for that to work at scale would be enormous. It’s much easier and cheaper to just record what shelve/height/area products are placed in and reconcile that data with sales. The data will be more noisy, but you can capture so much more valuable information for the same investment. You can also usually apply the models in retrospect, since most larger chains already record where products are supposed to be. Cameras are really only used at corporate test stores in small numbers. Camera data is usually looked at manually and only focuses on a specific product or area.
  - mkr-hn 5y ago
    Relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planogram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planogram
shrike 5y ago
Absolutely they are. Nordstrom and Home Depot got called out for doing it 8 years ago - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/05/09/how-nordstrom-and-home-depot-use-wifi-to-spy-on-shoppers/?sh=13565a394362 https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/05/09/how-nords.... The technology has progressed significantly since then. I've worked on systems designed to send in-store customers custom, extremely time limited (< 1 hour) coupons based on where they are in the store and where they linger. Linger time being used as an indicator of purchase intent for a specific item. This does require that the customer has the store's app installed and running.
dharmab 5y ago
I remember seeing this demo five or six year ago. Not a theoretical or startup, but being actively tested in large retailers.
relax88 5y ago
Uhh.... we already do this: https://dnaspaces.cisco.com/ https://dnaspaces.cisco.com/

beamatronic 5y ago

The Target app has very convenient in-store routing on a store map. Turn-by-turn directions down each aisle to bring you to the Kleenex.