Boots trials CCTV loss prevention integration

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Following the successful use of data mining software for the last two years, the healthy and beauty retailer is moving onto the next stage in development, integrating it with CCTV images.

Boots, the UK's largest health and beauty retailer, is trialling new loss prevention software integration with CCTV images to improve its ability to tackle fraud, theft and shrinkage.

The retailer today said the trial, which is taking place at its Mansfield store, would incorporate its existing point-of-sale (POS) data analysis with networked video and video analytics.

It has previously stated that the Vision SmartStore data mining software from specialist provider PCMS, originally implemented in 2006, was already saving the company millions of pounds by better identifying fraud and shrinkage.

Robert Jennings, head of loss prevention for Boots said: "The scope of the pilot scheme we have implemented with PCMS is unique within the industry and puts us at the forefront of the fight against shrinkage."

"The system can recognise when customers spend more than a certain amount of time at a particular shelf but can also be configured to identify congestion, till queue length or even spillages in aisles," said Jennings.

Miya Knights
Miya Knights

A 25-year veteran enterprise technology expert, Miya Knights applies her deep understanding of technology gained through her journalism career to both her role as a consultant and as director at Retail Technology Magazine, which she helped shape over the past 17 years. Miya was educated at Oxford University, earning a master’s degree in English.

Her role as a journalist has seen her write for many of the leading technology publishers in the UK such as ITPro, TechWeekEurope, CIO UK, Computer Weekly, and also a number of national newspapers including The Times, Independent, and Financial Times.