Occupancy Data and Sensors - Why 99%+ Accuracy is critical to Foot Traffic Management

Occupancy tracking, sensors, and management are hot topics right now, primarily promoted by the COVID pandemic and government- or self-mandated occupancy limits in nearly every establishment. Accordingly, there has been an influx in businesses and organizations looking for solutions to measure and manage their occupancy levels.

While there are many entry trackers that claim the ability to act as occupancy trackers as well, tracking occupancy is not the same as tracking entries into your space. While it may seem related, the need for accuracy when tracking occupancy is far greater than simply tracking entries given the need for accurate counts on both entries and exits. 

Let’s look at some examples of how different levels of accuracy can affect the occupancy data you’re capturing when it comes to basic counting at an entrance or exit.

Actual count = 75 visitors entering or exiting your space

90% Accuracy = Records 68 or 83 visitors entering/exiting 

95% = Records 71 or 79 visitors entering/exiting

98% = Records 73 or 77 visitors entering/exiting

99.9% = Records 75 visitors entering/exiting

While these counts are alarming, an inaccurate count will only compound itself, pushing data one way or the other as more visitors enter and exit your space throughout the day. In other words, for every mistaged entry, there could also be a mistaged exit, throwing the occupancy calculation into flux. In the 90% example, the extreme could be 83 tracked entries into your space and only 68 exits, leaving your occupancy at 15 visitors even though no one is in the store! There are a number of reasons why this is unacceptable. 

Metrics - The first is in the data itself. If you’re capturing entry and occupancy data for operational reasons, a lack of accuracy is dooming your efforts before they’re even off the ground. 

Testing - A big part of gathering data in physical spaces is to improve their performance and that requires testing. A lack of accuracy in your measuring methods will also greatly affect any testing that is done, skewing results and steering you in the wrong direction for changes you want to make. 

Safety - And the biggest reason why your occupancy data needs to be accurate is for safety. No matter if you’re managing occupancy for COVID-related reasons or just your maximum allotment of visitors, tools that provide you with inaccurate data could be contributing to a potential disaster.

When looking to track and manage occupancy or shopping for a new occupancy sensor, it is essential to find one that is capable of delivering the accuracy needed for your application. “Close enough” doesn’t cut it when you’re dealing with occupancy. Once you’ve found an occupancy sensor, take time to test it out before installation to ensure you’ve made the right choice.  

Learn more about how Scanalytics makes it easy for retailers to capture foot traffic data and more to improve their bottom-line and market-share.