Did you know that the temperature and smell inside a shop influence the time you remain in that space, the sections you visit, and even whether you decide to buy something or not?

It was precisely to help shopkeepers that a company in Porto developed, in association with INESC TEC, the Faculty of Engineering of the University Porto, and the Porto Engineering School, a platform that includes a computer system, sensors, and other technology, which allows shopkeepers to understand and capture the attention of consumers.

Music, scents or temperature are aspects that influence the time we spend in shops, supermarkets, or shopping centres, and they influence our decision on whether to purchase a certain item or not.

Marco Soares is head of operations at InovRetail, the company that developed a system which will help shop keepers better serve their customers and thus increase purchases.

And how can we define the best environment for a shop? “We have sensors in the shops that collect all sorts of information and statistics on the behaviour of consumers. That way, we will be able to understand the impact of all variables,” Marco Soares explained to Rádio Renascença.

All data collected by the computer systems and sensors will help the retailer understand how to better organise products, and which is the best temperature for the shop and dressing rooms.

The project received an investment of over half a million euros, with the support of the NSRF.

By the end of 2014, the system had already been applied in over 300 shops. In 2015, the goal is to internationalise the system that will help shopkeepers better understand consumers.

Página 1, 13 March 2015