As highlighted by 2022’s Consumer Trends Report, Gen X and Gen Z are the only generations to prefer in-store shopping over online purchases. Surprisingly, millennials have the highest portion in reshaping spending behaviour. However, there is a sufficient number of individuals still going to shopping malls. As places of crowding and purchasing goods in bulk, retail arcades are vulnerable to various risks. From robbery and pickpocketing to terrorist attacks, shopping malls are the criminal’s go-to avenues for massive illegal activities.
Considering the increase in potential risks, shopping malls should give their security and surveillance systems more attention. With biometric recognition led video monitoring, they can identify suspiciousness on the go, especially during spending sprees. This article explains how digital IDV solutions ensure maximum protection for shopping malls.
Retail Revolution and Applications of Biometric User Authentication
The technological revolution of retail stores is underway. After years of an online onslaught, brick-and-mortar outlets are resisting changes in their way of services while not going completely digital. Famous brands such as Adidas, Prada, Gucci, and several others still have physical stores on the streets despite offering online shopping. New retail concepts driven by a focus on convenience aligned with speed, make their way to China and the United States. They have spread to other regions as well, with a promise to enhance customer experience while using fewer resources.
Despite all the transformation, the freedom of touch and try still remains with stores in shopping malls. While the number of individuals preferring e-commerce spending continues to increase, customers in favour of physical purchases have an equal share.
Considering this, shopping malls should also take necessary steps to enhance their security and offer consumers a better and e-commerce equivalent experience. For this, biometric screening solutions are their go-to options. They offer real-time crowd monitoring, customer identification, ongoing surveillance, and self-learning algorithms to replace the error-prone manual watch.
Biometric Security Systems – Revolutionizing Shopping Malls and Spending Experience
The market worth of biometric ID verification solutions is predicted to top $51.6 billion by 2029 due to high adaptability and improved customer identification solutions. Similarly, shopping malls are also reaping several benefits from this technology amid the digital revolution of the retail sector. Being a target of massive illicit activities such as robbery, arcades need to strengthen their security by integrating efficient AI-powered biometric recognition solutions.
Facial verification makes surveillance easier while tracking suspicious activities in time. Prevention of payment fraud, shoplifting, and criminal entrance into the facility are other crucial concerns that biometric screening addresses. Further areas where this technology is seen taking over in shopping malls include the following:
Entry and Exit Points
Entrance gates are the most important in bringing improvements as they are points from where both customers and criminals can enter. With manual checking, identifying fraudsters gets tricky as they can easily present counterfeit documents such as biometric ID cards to trick the security personnel. Similarly, exit points with CCTV cameras that are easier to blur lead to the misidentification of offenders.
On the contrary, biometric screening-incorporated self-driven kiosks can minimize the risk of criminals’ entrance into shopping malls. With a database of international records, these systems can identify fraudsters belonging to any region. Hence, shopping malls can restrict criminals and extremist activities from happening at entry points.
Payment Authentication Methods
Shopping malls, despite their physical presence, are accepting technological innovations in some way. Retailers use touchless payments to ensure swift and secure transactions. As a result, this helps in elevating the customer experience. Furthermore, using biometric recognition helps in preventing payment scams, card-not-present fraud, and several other issues.
With AI-powered IDV solutions, customers can scan their facial features in the systems at receptions and leave with their purchases in minimal time. Hence, biometric security checks in payment systems also deter intrusiveness.
Video Surveillance within the Facility
CCTV cameras with biometric user authentication algorithms enhance surveillance across the facility. Furthermore, facial recognition helps identify offenders even if they hide in a massive crowd. During festivals and large spending events such as Christmas, biometric screening ensure secure in-store shopping.
Emergency Preparedness
AI-powered biometric recognition solutions enable shopping mall management to prepare for all types of crisis situations. From shooting and bomb threats to other severe scenarios, this technology reduces potential risks with ongoing real-time crowd monitoring.
In a Nutshell
Biometric recognition fuses convenience, security, and speed into storefront retailing in shopping malls. They play a major role in establishing technology-driven surveillance systems for enhancing customer digital onboarding as well as in-store spending experience. With ongoing monitoring, touchless payments, and swift identification at entry points, arcades can reduce the burden on their associates. Furthermore, biometric screening supports innovations in shaping shopping experiences. Hence, this technology is driving a new era for brick-and-mortar retailers.
