counttrack The untold truths about people counting systems

The difference between people counters

When it comes to sensors' accuracy and reliability, any sensor can provide some accuracy in theory. Since there is no standardized way to measure these promises, it can be difficult and overwhelming to choose the right solution.
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In most cases, sensors are only tested in ideal conditions. However, the retail environment contains a lot of actions and many challenges.

99%?

Any people counting system can provide high accuracy at some time. It’s important to maintain accuracy at all times.

Only then it is possible to trust such a system.
No information is reliable unless it is consistent or can be validated.

For example:

Accuracy can be affected by factors such as lighting, clothing, and body posture.

Some people counting sensors may have privacy concerns, as they collect personal data such as body movement and biometrics.

People counting sensors may have limited range, and may not accurately detect people in crowded areas.

The cost of installation and maintenance of people counting sensors may be higher than initially estimated.

The data collected by people counting sensors may not always be accurate, and may be subject to bias or manipulation.

People counting sensors may not be able to detect all types of people, such as children or those in wheelchairs.

Some people counting sensors may not be able to distinguish between people and objects, leading to false counts.

The accuracy of people counting sensors may decrease over time and may require frequent calibration.

If the accuracy of a solution is only tested in an ideal situation, it cannot withstand the complex demands of modern retail. It's important to thoroughly research and evaluate people counting sensors before deployment to ensure they meet the requirements and are a good fit for the intended use.

These are just some of the most common challenging conditions we have faced working with a vast variety of retail formats and settings.

”Test” is the king!
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We always recommend testing in different environments and time frames. At peak hours, during group entering, couples enter and exit simultaneously. Check child filtering (if available).

IN and OUT numbers are great for checking the accuracy

An accurate people counting system is expected to count both IN and OUT traffic with similar accuracy. The difference between the IN and OUT numbers is not the only one, but a valid indication of accuracy.

In our experience, we came across a lot of people counting sensors.

The best way to confirm the accuracy is still to manually test with a tally counter or use supporting systems such as a CCTV system to record a specific time frame.