Swedish furniture retailer opts for Axis cameras.

IKEA and Criterion, a system integrator working with Axis as a partner, have jointly developed a system for monitoring the 33,500 m2 store and the outside areas. The challenge in this case was that this system required a higher investment on the customer’s behalf than other competing offers. Nevertheless, the coverage of the camera system, its usability and the potential number of applications have projected future returns. Through the use of digital technology, such a modern system could be implemented successfully, which not only performs the basic tasks required by the tender, but also provides statistical data that can be used for further marketing purposes.

When designing its security system, the store opted for digital technology. “When it comes to use of advanced systems in Hungary, IKEA is definitely at the forefront. At the time of building the new store, we wanted to gear ourselves towards digital technology, as the whole world is moving in this direction as well, and because this technology is more flexible and provides much better quality.” said Gábor Lovász, Business Navigations and Operations Manager at IKEA Soroksár. 

The system is easily scalable and upgradeable. The cameras’ intelligence and the performance of their imaging have greatly contributed to the reduction in necessary storage capacity for recordings. Technologies such as Axis Lightfinder technology, which allows for detailed and color-rich images to be transmitted in low light, and Axis Zipstream technology, which can intelligently compress video data, thus significantly reduce bandwidth and storage space without compromising evidence detail, have both helped this development along. Using less and more efficient tools will result in lower costs, thus reducing energy usage and the ecological footprint of the system, which was a very important factor for IKEA, a brand famous for its environmental protection efforts.

The next steps include customer tracking, mapping of customers’ routes, and thus drawing the heat map of the store and the assessment of customer habits. The store is built to have a predefined customer route. The goal is for the customer to go everywhere, have a look at everything. This helps them to deduce how attractive the design and inspiration of the area is. The software is able to tell the customer’s gender, estimate their age, they can even find out how many families with children shop in the store. In this way, IKEA can easily and quickly reflect on the market situation and make itself even more attractive to existing and potential customers. Based on such great experiences, developments began in two other stores in Budapest, thanks to which the cash register transaction function will be activated in the store in Budaörs.