Future of Supermarket Tracking with SMART SHELVES!

[SeaBreeze]

The Future Of Shopping: Shelves That Track The Age And Gender Of Passing Customers

Global snack food giant Mondelez is testing "smart" shelves that use Microsoft Kinect technology.
By: Neal Ungerleider
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The ultimate in creepy-yet-inevitable marketing tech has arrived: supermarket shelves that track the age and gender of passing customers.

Supermarket giant Mondelez International, whose portfolio includes iconic brands like Chips Ahoy, Ritz, and Nabisco, is now testing shelves with integrated Microsoft Kinect sensors that determine the age and gender of passing shoppers.

Mondelez says they won't record individual data on passing supermarket shoppers, but will use the aggregate information to help tailor marketing campaigns.

Mark Dajani, Mondelez's chief information officer, told the Wall Street Journal's Clint Boulton the experimental shelves were part of a larger push by the global snack manufacturer to integrate sensor tech of the sort found in your smartphone into product research and marketing.

Dajani said that other new technologies, such as embedded weight sensors that detect when customers pick up products, could help create precision marketing tools for the supermarket aisle to make sure consumers put chocolate chip cookies in their carts.

Microsoft has been aggressively touting the use of Kinect for retailers.

While best known as a gaming tool, Kinect's sensor set allows retailers to inexpensively offer science fiction-like shopping experiences.

SOURCE: http://www.fastcompany.com/3020041/f...sing-customers

 

[SeaBreeze]

I feel like we're being observed under a microscope, just so big corporations that are already oozing with money, can get more out of us, the middle class that are already fighting to stay ahead of the game. We already have to sign up for those store club cards to get the lower prices on things. I know I had to do that at Walgreens drug store.

They always had ads and coupons you could use for the sale prices, now you can't get them unless you use sign up for their card, which tracks each and every item you buy, and when you bought it. Problem is, most of the products on the shelves are already at a highly inflated price, much higher than it should be. They claim that that's their "everyday low price"...yeah, right! So when you use their card to get your dollar off, you're still likely over-paying in some stores. :aargh: :dollar:

Now they're going to use spy tactics on the shelves to see if I'm a man or a woman, fat or thin, what item I pick up and how long I hold it, whether I read the label or not, whether I put it in the cart or back on the shelf. What BS...and abuse of technology, IMO!

 

[JustBonee]

If only these smart shelves could restock the shelves! .. they would get my vote..
anything would be better than the non-smart people who are supposed to reorder items for the shelves when they get depleted ... my experience is that it sometimes takes 2-3 months before things are back in stock..

 

[TICA]

We have the "air miles" cards here and you swipe them at most retailers and the theory is that you earn air miles that can be used for either air travel or other goods. From what I understand, the grocery stores, gas stations or any business that accepts them can then get reports to track what you spend and on what items. I find the whole thing creepy myself and am sure there are a lot of consumers using the cards that aren't aware of their spending habits are an open book.

 

[SeaBreeze]

One time Costco sent me a letter in the mail telling me that during a certain time period I bought some dog jerky that was on recall. I realized then that they used the card tracker to send out those memos to customers, so they do in fact have all of your purchases on computer file for reference.

 

[seabreezy]

Big Brother is watching!!! I saw a news report early this year about there being some sort of tracking device in packs of men's underwear and socks that were being sold at Wal-mart. Don't know if this actually happened or not. Wonder why they would wanna track men's underwear?:lofl: