AI to Sell More: From Foot Traffic Counting to Personalized Service

Artificial intelligence has moved beyond being just a futuristic topic to become an essential part of daily operations in many retail chains. In physical stores around the world — from Guitar Center and Walmart to Brazilian companies such as Grupo Pão de Açúcar — AI is driving sales, personalization, and agility in customer service.

The difference? These solutions are being incorporated into existing processes without requiring radical changes to store infrastructure, delivering tangible results in day-to-day operations.

Why is AI gaining ground in physical retail?

According to market studies, companies applying AI in brick-and-mortar retail have seen operational efficiency gains of up to 20% and increased sales through personalized customer journeys. AI is helping retailers to:

• Automate repetitive tasks;
• Reduce service time;
• Support strategic decisions based on real-time data;
• Improve the customer shopping experience.

Real-world cases of AI at the point of sale

Guitar Center: instant personalization via QR Code The U.S. musical instrument chain Guitar Center implemented an AI assistant that completely transforms the shopping experience. Customers scan a QR Code in-store, share their favorite artists, and instantly receive personalized recommendations — shortening decision-making time and enhancing the in-store experience.

Walmart: collective intelligence serving operations Walmart developed an AI ecosystem capable of processing more than 3 million weekly questions from employees, suppliers, and partners. The system integrates and organizes information from multiple areas, enabling staff to quickly find answers about inventory, logistics, and customer service. The result: faster operations and more accurate decision-making.

Grupo Pão de Açúcar: generative AI for strategic management In Brazil, Grupo Pão de Açúcar has been using generative AI to support decisions on inventory replenishment, promotions, and pricing. Analysis is conducted using minute-by-minute updated data. Additionally, AI automates responses to frequent employee questions, reducing time spent on internal processes and freeing up teams for higher-value tasks.

The new competitive standard in physical retail

What these examples have in common is the realization that AI has shifted from being an “optional innovation” to becoming part of the new competitive standard. Retailers that adopt AI in an integrated way can extract data insights that once went unnoticed, increase operational efficiency without major overhauls, and deliver more personalized and relevant customer experiences. Most importantly, AI does not have to replace processes — it can enhance them, boosting efficiency and delivering real value.

In this context, thousands of brick-and-mortar stores in Brazil have advanced in integrating their security cameras with AI-powered foot traffic counting systems. This combination transforms images into strategic data, providing insights into consumer behavior, peak traffic times, and sales team efficiency. With this information, managers can continuously adjust operations and improve the shopping experience in a data-driven way.

Trends for the coming years

By 2027, we can expect developments such as:

• In-store augmented reality shopping assistants;
• Predictive AI to forecast demand and prevent stockouts;
• Real-time analysis combining ERP data with people-counting systems.

Retailers that move quickly will be able to gain a lasting competitive advantage.

Want to know how to apply AI-powered foot traffic counting to your security cameras? Visit https://www.altervision.com.br/en#contact to learn more.