What worries shop owners
You cannot be at the register and watching the back aisle at the same time. Stock goes missing and nobody saw. A till is short and the story does not add up. A customer says they slipped on the entry mat. A break-in leaves a smashed door and an empty case.
The worry is rarely only theft. It is also disputes and safety claims, and the feeling that you are guessing about your own shop. Footage you can find quickly gives you something to check.
Where cameras go in a store
We walk your shop with you at the site assessment. Typical positions include:
- Entrance. A camera facing people as they walk in captures faces at a sensible angle. A second one outside can cover the footpath and the door.
- Counter and register. Over the till, positioned to see transactions and the people in them, without relying on a dim corner.
- Aisles and display areas. A wide camera per zone, not one view that tries to cover everything.
- Stockroom and back door. The place where deliveries and staff come and go, and where after-hours trouble often starts.
- Rear lane or car park. Where applicable and where you control the space.
Mirrors, glass cabinets and shopfront windows create glare. Sometimes the fix is moving a camera a metre, not buying a better one.
For a food setting, see restaurants and cafes.
What AI detection is useful for in a shop
During trading hours, you mostly want recorded evidence and fast search. After hours, you want alerts.
- Intrusion zone. After closing, set a zone over the shopfront and stockroom so you are told if a person enters it.
- Tripwire. A virtual line across the back door or loading area flags a person or vehicle crossing it.
- Human detection. After hours, it helps your phone alert for people, not for a window display light or a passing truck.
- Intelligent video search. On compatible systems, it helps you locate people or events in recorded footage, so you are not watching a whole afternoon to find one customer. See intelligent video search.
These depend on the selected camera and recorder, and AI features vary. Entry-level systems may offer basic motion detection only. The system flags and helps you locate. It does not decide who is guilty, and it does not guarantee that an incident will be caught.
How DMSS helps a retailer
You can check the shop from home on a Sunday, or from another store. An after-hours alert opens straight to the clip. During the day, a manager can look at the counter view to check a till dispute.
DMSS can share access with staff. You might give a store manager access to specific cameras and keep the rest to yourself. If you run more than one shop, remote access to multiple locations is possible through the same ecosystem. See multi-site businesses. Remote access is set up securely through DMSS and sensible network configuration.
Plan for these things
Lighting. Bright shopfronts and dim stockrooms need different cameras. Tell us about the lighting, and whether you leave lights on overnight.
Network. We cable cameras to a recorder in a secure spot, such as the back office, not behind the counter where it can be pulled out.
Storage. Retailers often look back after a dispute or a stock count. Decide how many days you want. We size the drive around camera count, quality and those days.
Privacy and signage. Put signs at the entrance. Tell staff about the cameras. Keep cameras out of toilets and change rooms, including fitting rooms. Audio is treated more strictly than video. State and territory surveillance and workplace rules differ, and the Privacy Act applies to some businesses. This is general information, not legal advice, so check your own state's rules.
Entry-level versus higher-end. Entry-level systems provide recording and motion alerts. Higher-end gear offers more detailed AI features, better images in mixed light and more advanced search.
Start the conversation
See the example systems and the cost page for how quotes are put together. Then contact us. Coverage and scheduling are confirmed when we quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the till and the customer in one view?
Often, with the right angle and lens. We confirm this at the site assessment.
Can staff see the cameras?
DMSS can share access with staff. You choose who gets access.
Will it reduce false alarms after hours?
On compatible systems, human detection can reduce alerts caused by non-person movement. Results vary.
Do I need signs?
Signage generally matters. Check your own state's rules, as this is general information only.