Increasing efficiency and reducing human errors has become a priority in retail, especially in a context where shrinkage continues to be a complex challenge for the sector. In this scenario, automation is a decisive step within a competitive ecosystem where faulty processes can directly impact operational results.

Automation, in other words, is a strategic stage of digital transformation in retail. But it is not enough to simply automate: the technology must be active, integrated, and operate in real time.

And the positive side of this discussion is that retailers are increasingly aware of this need.

According to a recent study, the global retail automation market is expected to surpass USD 71 billion by 2034, with an average annual growth of 9.5% during the period.

However, to reap the benefits of this innovation, it is necessary to break away from the idea of automation as an isolated system or tools that do not communicate with each other.

Contudo, para colher os frutos dessa inovação, é preciso romper com a ideia de automação como um sistema isolado ou de ferramentas que não se comunicam entre si.

The current moment demands, therefore, a model of strategic automation that generates operational intelligence and communicates with different areas of the business.

Why does retail still struggle with human errors?

Even with access to cutting-edge technology, many retailers still face critical operational bottlenecks in which human failures amplify losses that affect business profitability.

These errors appear in several areas: at checkout, in self-checkout, in merchandise verification, and stock control.

This scenario, in turn, only increases the risk of losses and out-of-stock issues that impact retail results.

Data from Abrappe, compiled in the 2024 Brazilian Retail Loss Survey, shows that the average retail shrinkage rate rose to 1.57% between 2022 and 2023.

This represents billions in losses. According to the study, even with increased revenue, retailers saw a rise of up to 10% in losses, reaching as much as R$34.9 billion.

This scenario reinforces the importance of understanding and investing in an automation model that enables proactive, centralized, and integrated management capable of preventing losses in real time.

After all, the increase in shrinkage rates can also be explained by a reactive management model in which audits and verifications only occur after the problem has already happened.

The challenge, therefore, is to migrate to a preventive model based on automated decisions and immediate alerts that support managerial decision-making and efficient, controlled team performance.

Retail automation: far beyond software

To achieve this integrated view, having isolated technology for POS management or reports from a specific area is not enough.

In the dynamic retail environment, automation requires a new perspective, one that enhances strategic, data-driven control with solutions capable of acting without continuous operator dependency.

It is, in this sense, about employing technology capable of acting in real time, executing decisions, or issuing alerts based

In other words, true retail automation is active: it responds autonomously to operational events without waiting for human intervention.

This is what allows failures to be corrected before they become bigger problems, reducing losses and costs, increasing productivity and strategic team performance, and directly improving the customer experience.

Benefits of retail automation

With this in mind, we can summarize some of the main benefits that an intelligent automation model can offer retailers. These include:

Reduction of operational costs

With less need for human supervision and rework, there is potential cost reduction, including the possibility of operating with leaner teams amid workforce shortages.

Agility in decision-making

Real-time alerts enable rapid responses that, for example, increase store safety through continuous identification of operational deviations or attempted fraud.

Increased productivity

Employees can focus on customers and strategic demands while repetitive tasks, monitoring, and control processes are precisely automated.

Improved customer experience

All of this translates into shorter lines, fewer service failures, and smoother customer service.

Greater loss control

With automated detection of errors, deviations, and fraud, retailers can implement strategic policies to increase the efficiency of loss prevention areas.

Compliance and process standardization

Finally, there is process standardization, with reduced room for human error and data that supports more transparent, integrated, and accurate audits.

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How Inwave automates critical retail processes

Inwave offers an ecosystem of integrated solutions that enable digital transformation based on intelligent retail automation.

Here’s how we help your chain grow with security, reliable data, and maximum efficiency.

Merchandise protection system with facial recognition (EAS + ID Facial)

The EAS + Face ID system, exclusive to Inwave’s anti-theft antennas, combines facial recognition data with antenna alarm events, all in real time.

Thus, when individuals considered suspicious enter the store environment, the system automatically identifies them and generates alerts for security teams.

With this, operations become proactive: staff can monitor and intervene, if necessary, before theft occurs, preventing loss in an automated way.

In addition to integrating with anti-theft antennas, the solution can communicate with CCTV systems, remote monitoring centers, and Inwave’s Video Analytics Intelligence, which also provides information about customer journeys for strategic decisions.

Remote Supervisor and greater agility at checkout

Another Inwave innovation is the Remote Supervisor, which reduces the need for physical supervisors through real-time automated validations.

This system monitors and validates transactions in checkout, cross-checking data and issuing alerts if any anomalies are detected.

With this, retailers drastically reduce response times, eliminate the need for multiple supervisors, and standardize service.

The Remote Supervisor also reduces internal fraud and speeds up checkout flow, improving the customer experience.

Additionally, all actions are logged and can be audited, strengthening internal controls and process transparency.

Weighing audit: intelligence against errors and fraud

The weight audit monitors weighing operations in real time, detecting deviations, inconsistencies, or attempted fraud that could otherwise go unnoticed.

Its functions include the generation of automatic alerts, enabling the identification of fraud and collusion.

With this, the weight audit reduces room for human error and enables rapid intervention before failures or deviations cause significant financial impact.

Anti-theft system audit

With Inwave, it is also possible to monitor anti-theft equipment in real time, with alerts that display images at the moment events occur

Integrated with the Darwin Platform, the auditing features allow configuring alerts so that antenna alarms can be monitored in real time by the remote center, supporting in-store action in case of theft attempts.

The Darwin Platform also supports audit-mode operations, generating insights for team training and process improvement.
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How Inwave’s automation solutions can optimize your store’s processes

In summary, Inwave delivers a wide range of benefits for store management, security, and loss prevention processes, including:

  • Reduced waiting times at checkout and store entry points;  
  • Less need for physical supervisors in your units, with increased remote control and reduced operational costs;  
  • Improved efficiency in preventing internal and external losses and theft;
  • Optimization of self-checkout processes, with fewer failures and increased store security;  
  • Enhanced customer experience through more agile, effective, and secure processes.
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The future of retail lies in real-time automation

With all this in mind, it’s clear that retail automation is no longer optional, it is an urgent necessity given operational complexity and the critical loss scenario in the market.

But for this transformation to be effective, it must go beyond passive systems. Retailers must adopt automation and integrated, data-driven technology operating in real time.

And this is exactly the perspective Inwave delivers: real-time solutions that connect intelligence, prevention, and operational performance with simplicity and scalability.

With the Darwin Platform, you can integrate our full suite of technologies and transform your operation into a proactive, intelligent structure capable not only of overcoming retail challenges but also standing out in a constantly shifting market.