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Did you know that retail losses can reach alarming figures each year? Imagine all that money going down the drain due to theft, waste, and other issues. To illustrate the impact, according to the latest Abrappe Retail Loss Survey in Brazil (October 2024), 21.86% of losses in supermarkets are due to external theft, with an additional 9.8% coming from internal theft. In this scenario, it is essential to rely on technology-based solutions, and security cameras in supermarkets are among the most widely used tools.
This technology not only reduces losses but also increases the sense of safety in the store, while supporting initiatives to boost productivity, improve the customer experience, and increase sales. Smart security cameras go beyond simple surveillance—they are tools that can work 24/7 to drive your business results.
In the retail environment, where customer traffic is constant and product volume is high, modern security technology surpasses conventional video recording.
The Importance of Security Cameras in Supermarkets
Security cameras are the most widely used technology for loss prevention in retail. According to research released by ABRAPPE, 100% of surveyed retailers reported already using CCTV for loss prevention, followed by presence alarm systems at 83%.
The high adoption rate is due to the fact that CCTV is a mature technology with a wide range of models from different manufacturers—from basic devices to advanced ones with built-in intelligence.
The electronic security sector grew 18.3% according to the latest ABESE market overview, once again highlighting the growing relevance of strategies such as using security cameras to address loss prevention challenges in retail.
What Is Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)?
CCTV is a camera monitoring system used to capture and transmit live or recorded footage. Widely used in supermarkets, it helps prevent losses, improve security, and enhance operational management by allowing remote monitoring of multiple areas of the store.
Smart CCTV Technology: Going Beyond Security
Traditional CCTV systems already provide several benefits to retailers. Having visibility over the environment is the first step toward more effective management. However, the potential benefits are multiplied when adding smart triggers and alerts to see what really matters, exactly when it matters.
This is where the Inwave Darwin Platform has been transforming store operations across Brazil, ensuring higher efficiency and profitability.
By integrating cameras into the Darwin Platform ecosystem, the investment in security cameras—once solely for protection—can now serve all store departments, benefiting commercial, marketing, customer service, operations, and more.
Inwave Darwin is a cloud-based platform for managing operational processes through images, with real-time intervention capabilities.
Planning: The Importance of Project Design
A CCTV project involves several technical decisions, such as the strategic positioning of cameras, choosing the right technology and equipment, and defining points of interest to be monitored. It’s essential that retailers have specialized teams involved from the design stage to ensure the best results.
Here are some practical tips:
• Avoid blind spots: Strategic camera placement in supermarkets is essential to prevent blind spots and maximize monitoring effectiveness. For example, imagine an aisle where cameras cannot capture the far end, or a tall shelf blocking the view of the other side. These “hidden” zones can be exploited by malicious individuals to steal products or commit fraud without being seen.
• Define points of interest: To ensure the footage can be used beyond security—bringing benefits to other departments—it’s important to define points of interest for greater efficiency, through process compliance analysis.
Boosting Profits: Centralizing CCTV Footage
The first step toward efficient camera use is centralizing footage, enabling the management of all stores from a remote control center.
Once images are centralized, the next step in the evolution of technology use is centralized operational management, bringing numerous benefits to retail, such as:
- Increased operational efficiency through process standardization and economies of scale;
- Improved decision-making through consolidated data;
- Cost reduction through better resource allocation;
- Enhanced control and monitoring.
How to Optimize Operations Using Supermarket Security Cameras?
While cameras are the foundation of store security management, they can deliver much more. Investing first in centralized image management and later in centralized operations management is the path to cost reduction and greater process control.
With this goal in mind, the Inwave Darwin Platform has proven to be an essential tool in helping retailers optimize operations and improve results.
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