Uncorking Intelligence: Liquor City Oasis Pioneers AI-Powered Retail for Smarter Operations and Superior Service

In the competitive landscape of retail, how does a liquor store not just survive, but thrive, by leveraging customer insights into a significant competitive edge? Liquor City’s Oasis Brackenfell in Cape Town, South Africa, found its answer in Hikvision’s state-of-the-art smart retail solutions. Bolstered by Hikvision’s advanced Guanlan large-scale AI models, this innovative system is delivering actionable intelligence, allowing the store to meticulously optimize every facet of its operations, from strategic product placement to efficient staff scheduling.

For years, Liquor City has stood as a pillar of South African retail, renowned for its extensive selection of quality products and unparalleled customer service. Yet, the management at the Oasis Brackenfell store harbored ambitions beyond the traditional. They sought to transcend conventional retail, aiming to deeply understand customer behaviour, optimize their store layout with precision, guarantee product availability during peak demand, and streamline daily operations across the board. Their vision was clear: forge the smartest possible retail environment – one that would not only enhance the shopping experience for customers but also empower staff, safeguard valuable inventory, and uphold the highest standards of operational excellence.

An intelligent system supporting operations throughout the store

To transform this vision into reality, the Oasis Brackenfell store forged a strategic partnership with TMT Services and Supplies. Together, they deployed a comprehensive Hikvision solution – a powerful ecosystem uniting multi-dimensional data, cutting-edge AI-driven functionalities, and intuitive tools designed for daily staff use. Each component was meticulously chosen to address a specific operational requirement, all underpinned by Hikvision’s revolutionary Guanlan large-scale AI models, furnishing the store with highly accurate smart functions that elevate decision-making capabilities.

Right at the store’s threshold, two DeepinView Moto Varifocal Dome Cameras (iDS-2CD7146G2-IZHSY) meticulously capture crucial insights into customer traffic patterns. These devices track walk-in rates, walk-by rates, and overall foot traffic, providing invaluable data. Seamlessly integrated with the Hik-Connect for Teams business intelligence module, this intelligence empowers management to finely tune and optimize store operations.

Strategically positioned throughout the aisles, three DeepinView Fisheye Cameras (DS-2CD6365G1-IVS) offer a panoramic view, allowing staff to pinpoint customer hotspots and understand shopping behaviours. Near the pay points, intelligent queue detection is a game-changer, delivering real-time alerts when wait times exceed predefined thresholds. This proactive system enables the team to swiftly open additional tills, drastically reducing customer pressure and enhancing service efficiency during peak periods.

The critical checkout area is fortified by three DarkFighter Fixed Dome Cameras (DS-2CD2146G2H-ISU), renowned for delivering crystal-clear imagery around the clock. Their seamless integration with point-of-sale (POS) data creates a holistic overview of sales trends. This powerful synergy not only aids in swift and accurate resolution of customer purchase inquiries but significantly elevates overall service quality.

For the high-value product storage area, a sophisticated Face Recognition Terminal (DS-K1T342MWX-E1) meticulously controls access. Ensuring only authorized personnel can enter, this terminal also features integrated time-and-attendance recording, upholding stringent security protocols and facilitating impeccable storage management.

The very ‘brain’ of this entire intelligent ecosystem is a DeepinMind NVS (iDS-6716NXI-M1/AI(B)). Harnessing Hikvision’s powerful Guanlan large-scale AI models, it unlocks a suite of specialized capabilities for diverse scenarios. These include proactive fall detection to ensure the safety of both staff and customers, vigilant gun detection for heightened security awareness, and continuous fire monitoring in storage areas, meticulously protecting both personnel and precious inventory. Such intelligent functions operate seamlessly and continuously in the background, offering an invaluable layer of peace of mind without demanding constant manual oversight.

Seamlessly interconnecting every component, a 16-port Smart PoE Switch (DS-3E1318P-EI) facilitates robust communication between all cameras and the central management station. With intuitive management via web browsers or mobile applications, it allows for rapid device setup and remote configuration, granting the store unparalleled flexibility and control over its entire sophisticated security network.

Stronger insights, higher efficiency, and a better shopping experience

Since the implementation of this cutting-edge AI-powered solution, Liquor City Oasis Brackenfell has experienced a profound transformation, gaining unprecedented insights into its daily and seasonal performance. Store Manager Pieter Toriem enthusiastically shares, “We can now clearly see when our store is the busiest and which area attracts the most attention. That understanding helps us plan better and stay prepared.”

These newfound insights have directly translated into a tangible surge in operational efficiency. Enhanced visibility into peak periods enables smarter staff scheduling and ensures swifter responses during high-traffic moments, significantly alleviating pressure on both customers and employees. Concurrently, clearer transaction reviews and meticulously structured access management contribute to consistently smooth daily operations. As Toriem succinctly puts it, “the new system has helped us plan better, speed up service, and reduce loss.”

But the benefits extend beyond mere operational enhancements. The store has also achieved an invaluable sense of peace of mind. The robust, comprehensive protection afforded by the Guanlan large-scale AI-powered features provides unwavering reassurance that both dedicated staff and valuable inventory are meticulously safeguarded.

The remarkable success story unfolding at Liquor City Oasis Brackenfell stands as a powerful testament to how AIoT (AI-powered Internet of Things) technologies can fundamentally revolutionize a retail space, transforming it into a more dynamic, exceptionally efficient, and deeply customer-focused environment. Armed with unparalleled data-driven insights, robust operational support, and scalable technology, this trailblazing store has confidently stepped into the future of retail, setting a compelling precedent that may soon inspire widespread upgrades across the entire Liquor City group.