Scanalytics, the Milwaukee-based company that makes floor sensor technology to track and collect data on human movement patterns, is providing its tech to Wisconsin grocer Metcalfe's Market free of charge to help the company with COVID-19-induced capacity at its stores.
Metcalfe’s has three stores in Wisconsin, two in Madison and one in Wauwatosa. The grocer is only admitting 50% of its general capacity at any single time. Once the number is reached, customers are required to wait in a line outside the store, and the next shopper is only allowed to enter when someone inside completes their trip and leaves.
Scanalytics and Metcalfe’s began talking about deploying the technology in early April, said Scanalytics CEO Joe Scanlin. Scanalytics had a previous working relationship with Metcalfe’s, who initiated the conversation, he said.
The first installations will be in Metcalfe’s Madison stores, followed by the Wauwatosa location.
Scanalytics’ system will provide real-time data to Metcalfe’s workers that can be viewed on mobile devices. The system includes an indicator that alerts workers when capacity is reached.
Scanalytics is also building a public-facing data tool, allowing customers to view capacity numbers at stores before arriving, Scanlin said. Scanalytics is working on making the real-time data available on Metcalfe’s website and store-specific smartphone apps. Any applications built by Scanalytics for shoppers will include that data as well, Scanlin said.
Metcalfe’s is Scanalytics’ first project for COVID-19 capacity control, said Scanlin, who is inviting other businesses to contact his company to have similar technology installed in their facilities, which Scanalytics will do free of charge.
“Once social distancing regulations loosen, and I think it’s fair to say and most would agree it’s not going to immediately go back to the way it was pre-COVID-19,” Scanlin said. “What we’ve been finding is other larger facilities are scrambling to find ways to say 'How can we prove to the occupants or attendees of the shows or spaces that we have that we’re using smart technology that doesn't sacrifice privacy for actionable information or data?’”
In addition to offices in Madison and Chicago, Scanalytics is expanding with sales and support offices in Tennessee and internationally in the United Arab Emirates to service its Middle Eastern customers, Scanlin said.
