BGF Retail, Deeping Source to co-work on smart convenience stores

BGF Retail Co., the operator of South Korea’s leading convenience store chain CU, said on Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AI video analytics company Deeping Source on the previous day to implement smart convenience stores.

The two companies will utilize existing CCTV to monitor and analyze real-time store conditions.

The system will detect key elements such as product inventory, whether refrigerators are properly closed, and the cleanliness of sample stations. If immediate action is required, alerts will be sent to employees’ mobile phones.

The two companies plan to introduce an AI-based system called Plus Insight, which can track customer movement patterns, dwell time, and even their interest and gaze toward specific products.

This technology is expected to optimize product displays and improve inventory management, crucial for maximizing store sales.

BGF Retail emphasized that the technology uses anonymized data and has no privacy concerns.

Both conducted preliminary tests in around ten stores last year to implement AI video analytics. 

Write to Jae-Kwang Ahn at ahnjk@hankyung.com