IN OUT COUNT — the what, they why and the how of people counting.
What?
People counting is the process of taking a count of the number of people to enter and exit a physical space. This can be done manually (the doorman with a handheld tally counter), technologically (a camera or sensor) or not at all (…probably don’t need to explain that one).
Most businesses fall into the ‘not at all’ category, relying on feel (“it seems busy”) and other metrics, such as sales data, to evaluate how their space is being used.
However, relying on feel instead of fact means a powerful, data-driven opportunity to enhance a business is wasted, as chances to optimise staffing arrangements, the customer experience, and store layout are missed. So too is the opportunity to understand how external factors, such as holidays and the weather, influence customer trends.
Why?
Put simply, people counting data gives a business a clear picture of how its space — be that an office, a bar or a store — is being used.
Counting the number of people to enter and exit a space provides immediate insights into peak usage times, occupancy levels and dwell times.
From the bar who wants to understand the best time to provide drinks offers, to the retailer who needs to understand if their local newspaper adverts have increased footfall — this data quickly gives businesses a richer picture of how they (and their space) are performing.
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This data can also be overlaid with a business’s existing analytics to understand how various business functions are performing and can be optimised. For example:
· Comparing sales against the number of people who have entered a premises provides a business with its conversion rate…how many customers come in and don’t make a purchase? Now you know and can tailor staffing and training accordingly.
· Dividing the number of customers by the number of available staff gives an insight into your customer-to-staff ratio…now you categorically know, hour-by-hour, your staffing requirements.
· Comparing occupancy data against room bookings shows how your space is actually being used…Do you need bigger offices or to optimise how your current one is used? Now you know.
This data gives a clear picture of how space is being used, allowing businesses to optimise their operations to produce a more effective business.
How?
People counting technology has traditionally been the preserve of big business due to the restrictive cost and complexity of available solutions.
However, YoFlo is bringing the power of people counting to the masses.
Sold as ‘Device-as-a-Service’, for as little as £35 per month, YoFlo will provide an accurate, affordable and simple-to-use people counting solution. Setup in minutes and connected via WiFi, YoFlo will deliver live, beautiful data about your space, to a mobile device, via the YoFlo App.
YoFlo will be available from summer 2019. To stay updated, sign up to our mailing list here. The FIRST 100 to do so will get a YoFlo Device, worth £249…for FREE!
