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I've worked with a major retailer on similar backend systems and can echo the post above - all of them are running these systems and they almost never discuss the specifics (until someone like Walmart sues Everseen and we get a glimpse behind the curtain from the court documents).

If you go to an org's website offering these tools (eg, Everseen mentioned above, RetailNext, etc), they don't directly advertise the full breadth of their capabilities until you have them in a room for a sales pitch. They can combine multiple data streams such that an individual can be traced throughout the store via cameras, wifi, and bluetooth, which gives the retailer an opportunity to sell that information. Did a customer pause in front of the corn chips but then decide not to buy? Print them out a Frito-Lay coupon at checkout and see if you can't get them next time, and Frito-Lay will pay you to do that.



That's so cursed. I suppose since the source of the money here is the manufacturer, this only happens in major retailers with large shops?

Do you know if smaller shops in india/asia also make use of this?


I have no first hand experience outside of North America so I won’t speculate. There is a cost of entry so you need to be moving enough volume in a market already working on razor thin margins. I’d expect that this means it’s only for the regional/national players here.


Ah ok so just to confirm the providers charge the store per user entry? That gives me a good idea of who would go for it. Thanks


Sorry, "cost of entry" meaning that the software and the supporting hardware platforms makes it cost prohibitive for a small org that isn't moving a lot of volume from their shelves. Grocer margins are razor thin already.




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