RETAIL ENVIRONMENT
Common sense in sensing common areas
Just in time Indyme provides social distancing warning technology.
With retail stores and distribution centres (DCs) closely scrutinising their business resumption plans, one pre-requisite is clear - social distancing is likely to be mandated by the likes of local authority environmental health (EHO) departments who will be playing a key policing and enforcement role.
Those DCs that have been open for online orders during the coronavirus crisis have already sought a clean bill of health through EHO approval for their social distancing plans as a means of reducing risk and reassuring staff.
One of the local authority central demands has been the requirement for tannoy-style warnings to ensure staff are made regularly aware of social distancing protocols which will be key in the battle to reduce a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Whether at today’s essential locations such as supermarkets, or at public spaces opened as restrictions lift, safety relies on maintaining awareness of this important practice.
To support this need, Indyme, a leading provider of retail industry technology solutions, has introduced the SmartDome, a new device that senses when people are in a location and uses audio signalling to heighten real-time awareness of social distancing in retail stores, office lobbies, medical clinics, café entrances, and other areas where people may be inclined to cluster together.
Noel Verbruggen, managing director of Intrepid Security, the Surrey-based re-seller for Indyme, said: “A top priority for retailers in this volatile COVID-19 environment is ensuring the safety of everyone in their stores.
“Social distancing measures are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, even after the UK comes out of the current lockdown until a vaccine is found and made available.
“While visits to food, chemists, and DIY stores remain essential to most of us, each visit represents added risk to shoppers and staff alike.
“Retailers have been rigorous in adopting increasingly rigorous cleaning practices and other measures to assure shoppers of their safety, but ensuring compliance of social distancing by hundreds of visitors every day is a challenge.
“The SmartDome looks like a dome security camera, however, upon detecting people in the monitored area, it will trigger a simple but effective announcement, such as “For your safety, please maintain at least six feet of social distance.”
Battery operated, the SmartDome can be simply and quickly deployed; no wiring or technical expertise is needed for its installation.
“Once this pandemic is under control, SmartDome can be easily repurposed with the flick of a switch to help reduce theft and increase customer engagement, thereby contributing to store operations long after social distancing is no longer necessary.
“Our Partners in the US and Germany have already had some great success in deploying these devices for clients and we are hoping for the same in the UK."
To see a demonstration of this product click here.
With over 27 years’ experience Intrepid have a unique insight and understand that there is no such thing as a one size fits all solution.
Visit www.intrepidsecurity.com or contact Paul Newbury at p.newbury@intrepidgroup.co.uk or on
+44 (0) 1372 736980 for additional information.
