Using Sensor-Based Behavior Analytics in Retail Security
Tough to calculate, difficult to ignore
Getting a precise gauge of the scale of retail theft globally is a Herculean task. Though the dollar figure may be difficult to determine, it is generally accepted that losses from theft are calculated in the billions.
Considering the amounts involved, retailers are constantly looking for solutions to stanch shrinkage—all while balancing costs and customer experience. For example, too much reliance on security guards (worst, armed security guards) risks inflating staff costs and creating a climate of intimidation that can drive consumers away.
Key Takeaways from ISC West 2025
The retail industry’s unique security challenges were among the themes at the 2025 edition of ISC West—North America’s largest security industry event. One key lesson from ISC West 2025 was how sensor-based analytics adds critical context to traditional CCTV systems.
Retailers have relied on CCTV to support security efforts for decades, deploying video cameras at high-risk areas inside and outside shopping areas and buildings. While CCTV provides video footage for monitoring, sensor technology captures real-time data about customer movements, interactions with products, and overall in-store behavior. This data enables retailers to gain deeper insights into shopping patterns and behavior that CCTV alone cannot provide—and with a much lower cost for computing and data management.
ISC West also emphasized the importance of using AI and machine learning to analyze the massive amounts of data generated by these systems. Combining sensor-based analytics with CCTV creates a proactive security solution. For example, if an unusual behavior, like lingering in a specific aisle, is detected, an alert can trigger a security response, while the CCTV footage can verify the situation. This automated process reduces reliance on constant human monitoring and enables quicker, more informed responses.
Retailers are now empowered to optimize store layouts and adjust marketing strategies based on these insights, ultimately improving customer satisfaction. The ability to predict potential security incidents before they happen—through a combination of real-time data and visual evidence—is an essential tool for preventing theft and fraud, at self-checkout zones and other areas in the retail environment.
The Future of Battling Retail Crime
ISC West 2025 reinforced the view that a solution combining sensor-based analytics and CCTV can deliver a comprehensive defense against theft without unnecessarily inflating compute and data management costs. Combining these technologies not only enhances loss prevention but can also improve how stores operate and interact with customers.
Xovis’ stereovision sensors are already being used to bolster security efforts alongside CCTV tech. For example, our sensors are used at self-checkout zones at major retailers in Europe and the US to remove friction at gated zones. This combination helps retailers curb the heavy costs associated with “skip scanning” and attempted walkouts.
Tags: | sensor-based | theft | ai-powered | cctv | insights | machine learning |
