One of the biggest areas in which retailers have full control of the customer experience is product placement and the fleet of Tesco stores is hoping to take that up a notch by introducing image recognition technology. The Tesco store acknowledges the fact that poorly placed products and empty--or even messy--shelving can really detract from the overall customer experience.
Partnering with IBM, the Tesco store has created a hi-tech solution that involves taking a photograph of a shelving unit. The image recognition software then gives feedback on the placement, letting employees know if the items are in the correct place. A result of the Tesco Labs division, many companies can benefit from such innovative research and implementations that focus on the customer.
Through this technology, Tesco stores will be able to replace traditional paper guides. More than that, it can be further developed to include augmented reality. Head of Tesco Labs Angela Maurer says, "If you’re diabetic, to be able to look around the shelves and automatically get information on the sugar content – that’s incredibly powerful."
Hi-Tech Product Placements
The Tesco Stores Introduce Image Recognition Technology for Shelves
Trend Themes
1. Image Recognition Technology - The use of image recognition technology in retail stores can improve product placement and enhance the customer experience.
2. Augmented Reality - The integration of augmented reality with image recognition technology can provide customers with real-time information about products.
3. Hi-tech Product Guidance - Replacing traditional guides with hi-tech solutions like image recognition technology can streamline processes and improve overall efficiency.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Retailers can leverage image recognition technology to optimize product placement and enhance the customer shopping experience.
2. Technology - The integration of image recognition technology and augmented reality presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the technology industry.
3. Customer Service - Implementing hi-tech product guidance solutions can revolutionize customer service in various industries, providing real-time information and personalized experiences.