5 strategies to avoid tensions and incidents.
Flow management in shopping centers is a daily challenge. At peak times, queues grow longer, aisles become congested and tensions can quickly escalate, impacting customer experience and in-store safety.
To keep traffic flowing smoothly and avoid incidents, retailers need to adopt a proactive approach. Here are 5 key strategies for optimizing crowd management and ensuring better flow control.
Good crowd management starts withanticipating peak periods. Certain times of the day or week are more critical:
Weekends and public holidays
Promotional periods and sales
The minutes before store closing
Thanks to real-time video analytics solutions, it's possible to spot trends in footfall and adjust staffing levels at checkouts or on the shelves before the situation becomes critical.
📌 C ORE's plusses: AI continuously observes the evolution of flows and alerts teams as soon as a critical threshold is reached. The result? Less waiting and better space organization.
Long queues are a major source of customer frustration. Poor management can lead to conflict and damage the store's image.
Here are some effective solutions:
✔️ Implementation of a queue management system (real-time indicators of checkout traffic).
✔️ Staff reinforcement at strategic moments
✔️ Generalization of automatic checkouts, with proactive assistance in the event of problems
📌 CORE's plusses: video analysis automatically detects queues lengthening and sends a real-time alert to open new checkouts before bottlenecks occur.
Certain areas of the store are naturally more susceptible to traffic jams:
Store entrances and exits
Promotions and special offers
Busy departments (bakery, butchery, fruit and vegetables)
To avoid bottlenecks, it's crucial to :
✔️ Optimize the layout of spaces to improve traffic flow
✔️ Broadcast orientation messages to guide customers effectively
✔️ Analyze flows in real time to anticipate risky situations
📌 CORE's plusses: AI identifies unusual crowds and warns teams to intervene before a situation degenerates.
Tensions between customers or with staff are more frequent during busy periods. A preventive approach is therefore essential.
Best practices :
✔️ Increase the presence of security teams in sensitive areas.
✔️ Train staff in conflict management
✔️ Set up discreet alerts to report any abnormal situations.
📌CORE's plusses: Intelligent video detects sudden movements and unusual gatherings, sending an immediate alert to security officers.
In busy areas, managing emergency exits is a critical issue. An obstacle in a passageway or a blocked door can have serious consequences in an emergency.
Steps to take :
✔️ Regularly check that emergency exits are easily accessible.
✔️ Raise staff awareness of the importance of respecting evacuation routes.
✔️ Install a real-time monitoring system
📌 CORE's plusses: AI constantly analyzes sensitive accesses and sends an immediate alert in the event of obstruction or non-compliance.
Effective crowd management relies on anticipation, responsiveness and flow optimization. Thanks to intelligent video, teams can act faster, prevent incidents and guarantee a safe environment for all.
And you, are you ready to optimize your store's flow management? 🚀
📩 Let's discuss it!