People Counting Systems –3 WC Blog 824
Door Counting Sensor – 4
Smarter Business Management With People Counting Systems
It is a good thing we use people counting systems in our college library it helps our planning during exam weeks. It was the use of the device that provided the numbers from last year’s exam weeks to better prepare for this year. I know there may be some readers out there who have not been to college or have been out for quite some time like me. To tell the truth, during my time in college we had exams and that was it, there was no concern about student “stress” or anxiety. Today’s college campuses and universities are cognizant of the pressures on students and try to find means to alleviate some of that. From offering counseling services to providing therapy pets administrators are proactive in the steps they take. Why the concern? I will leave that for others to answer. My opinion is that they are trying to reduce the number of students who do not return for the following semester. If a student feels like they can’t handle the pressure of exams they might get frustrated and forego re-enrollment. Another reason in my opinion is to reduce the risk of violence associated with stress. So, in our library we put out games and puzzles and snacks. We operate 24/7 but during the week before exams throughout exams our overnight shift sees a dramatic increase in patrons. What we have found through the use of a door counting sensor is that there are dynamics that have changed in the days when the most students are in the building. Several years ago Sunday – Thursday of exam week were the busiest times. That was when we took our snack cart through the building. Over the years we continued to offer most of the snacks during those corresponding days but noticed that we were not running out of foods and had to find solutions to get rid of excess. We began looking at door counts and we saw a trend that students were increasing their time in the building the week before exams. We changed how we run our snack cart to be more in line with the new busy days. Now our students are happy and we don’t have to worry about what to do with leftover snacks…there aren’t any!
Now I have you scratching your head wondering what people counting systems, libraries and snack carts have to do with operating a retail store. I get it, it sounds odd but there is a logical explanation. Do you operate your business the same way year in and year out? Do you assume shopping habits are the same and never change? Be careful! Sometimes we don’t recognize when changes occur around us. You can assume people are following the same old routines however it could be the shopping days and hours are shifting and you missed it. A door counting sensor would let you see when people are REALLY coming to your store to shop.
What difference can it really make if you know what days and times customers are coming into the store? I think it would be neat if you used that information to add one more sales person to your crew at that time. That extra employee is busy assisting customers and engaging in suggestive selling. More attention to the needs of the customers equates to more merchandise going through the cash register stand. I know what I am saying is true because I spend time with the customers I work with. I learn what they are looking for and find the right product for them and then try to help them understand why they need the extra items. Don’t let a computer shopper leave without exploring whether they need to use specific computer programs only available with a certain service. Don’t sell a file cabinet without suggesting hanging folders. I have also been in the position of not having enough help on the salesfloor and I have to cut short my time with a customer. A door counting sensor doesn’t help interact with a customer but is does help improve the opportunities for spending more time with shoppers.
You probably are not concerned with tests, stress or snack carts but you are concerned about numbers and you should be concerned when those numbers are in your store. People counting systems give you the advantage of knowing when shoppers are spending time in your building. Take advantage of that knowledge, staff the store appropriately and train your team on how to build sales through improved customer service. That door counting sensor will pay for itself in no time.
A people counting system is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.814.0547 and let’s talk.
It is a good thing we use people counting systems in our college library it helps our planning during exam weeks. It was the use of the device that provided the numbers from last year’s exam weeks to better prepare for this year. I know there may be some readers out there who have not been to college or have been out for quite some time like me. To tell the truth, during my time in college we had exams and that was it, there was no concern about student “stress” or anxiety. Today’s college campuses and universities are cognizant of the pressures on students and try to find means to alleviate some of that. From offering counseling services to providing therapy pets administrators are proactive in the steps they take. Why the concern? I will leave that for others to answer. My opinion is that they are trying to reduce the number of students who do not return for the following semester. If a student feels like they can’t handle the pressure of exams they might get frustrated and forego re-enrollment. Another reason in my opinion is to reduce the risk of violence associated with stress. So, in our library we put out games and puzzles and snacks. We operate 24/7 but during the week before exams throughout exams our overnight shift sees a dramatic increase in patrons. What we have found through the use of a door counting sensor is that there are dynamics that have changed in the days when the most students are in the building. Several years ago Sunday – Thursday of exam week were the busiest times. That was when we took our snack cart through the building. Over the years we continued to offer most of the snacks during those corresponding days but noticed that we were not running out of foods and had to find solutions to get rid of excess. We began looking at door counts and we saw a trend that students were increasing their time in the building the week before exams. We changed how we run our snack cart to be more in line with the new busy days. Now our students are happy and we don’t have to worry about what to do with leftover snacks…there aren’t any!
Now I have you scratching your head wondering what people counting systems, libraries and snack carts have to do with operating a retail store. I get it, it sounds odd but there is a logical explanation. Do you operate your business the same way year in and year out? Do you assume shopping habits are the same and never change? Be careful! Sometimes we don’t recognize when changes occur around us. You can assume people are following the same old routines however it could be the shopping days and hours are shifting and you missed it. A door counting sensor would let you see when people are REALLY coming to your store to shop.
What difference can it really make if you know what days and times customers are coming into the store? I think it would be neat if you used that information to add one more sales person to your crew at that time. That extra employee is busy assisting customers and engaging in suggestive selling. More attention to the needs of the customers equates to more merchandise going through the cash register stand. I know what I am saying is true because I spend time with the customers I work with. I learn what they are looking for and find the right product for them and then try to help them understand why they need the extra items. Don’t let a computer shopper leave without exploring whether they need to use specific computer programs only available with a certain service. Don’t sell a file cabinet without suggesting hanging folders. I have also been in the position of not having enough help on the salesfloor and I have to cut short my time with a customer. A door counting sensor doesn’t help interact with a customer but is does help improve the opportunities for spending more time with shoppers.
You probably are not concerned with tests, stress or snack carts but you are concerned about numbers and you should be concerned when those numbers are in your store. People counting systems give you the advantage of knowing when shoppers are spending time in your building. Take advantage of that knowledge, staff the store appropriately and train your team on how to build sales through improved customer service. That door counting sensor will pay for itself in no time.
A people counting system is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.814.0547 and let’s talk.
