Have you ever wondered how much safer your privacy would be if your appearance changed thousands of times per second?

Now think about this: What tracking technology would you choose to protect your customers’ and your own privacy using cameras or signal-based tracking?

At Ariadne, we believe that signal-based people counting is the clear winner. Here’s why and it all comes down to three core factors: privacy, cost-efficiency, and scalability.

1. Privacy: Guaranteed by Design

Ariadne’s system is built to respect privacy. We offer mathematically proven techniques to ensure GDPR compliance — most notably, k-anonymity, which groups individuals together in a way that no one can be singled out.

With k-anonymity, you can track foot traffic and visitor movement without compromising anyone’s identity. This technology is integrated deeply into the Ariadne algorithm, forming the foundation of our privacy-first people counting solution.

2. Cost-Efficiency: Affordable, Reliable, Scalable

Ariadne is unaffected by chip shortages for two reasons:

• Our signal-based people counting works with standard wireless chips, which are both low-cost and widely available.
• Ariadne can be deployed using existing Wi-Fi routers or infrastructure hardware: no need for expensive new installations.

Compared to camera-based people counting systems, which require numerous devices and ideal line-of-sight, Ariadne is much more affordable and practical.

3. Scalability: Built for Growth

Ariadne uses a mesh network of sensors (called Surveyors). If one fails, the system continues operating seamlessly with the others. Need to expand your analytics coverage? Simply add more Surveyors - no reconfiguration required.

4. Signal-Based vs. Camera-Based People Counting

While camera-based footfall counters can technically meet GDPR requirements, they do so at significantly higher costs.

For example:

• One camera can cover only 20 m²
• One Ariadne Surveyor can cover up to 1,200 m²
• To monitor a 40,000 m² retail space, you’d need:
• Only 34 Ariadne Surveyors
• But at least 2,000 cameras, assuming clear visibility

Cameras struggle with obstructions like walls, furniture, people. Ariadne doesn’t.

Things Ariadne Can Do That Traditional People Counting Systems Can’t

1. More Accurate Foot Traffic Analytics

Ariadne tracks unique trajectories, not just entry counts. It can:

• Exclude staff and repeat visitors
• Identify quick visits, group sizes, and passersby
• Offer a more realistic picture of conversion rates

2. Dwell Time Analysis

Knowing how many people enter isn’t enough. What matters is how long they stay. Ariadne measures dwell time to optimize store layout, reduce waiting times, and enhance the shopping experience.

3. Smarter Staff Allocation

Divide your store into zones and allocate employees based on visitor density. Ariadne forecasts hourly staff needs for the upcoming week, helping you:#

• Optimize shift planning
• Improve peak time coverage
• Potentially double your conversion rate

4. Better Product Placement & Pricing Strategies

By integrating sales data, Ariadne uncovers:

• Conversion patterns
• Product browsing vs. purchase behavior
• Cross-selling opportunities and price friction points

This helps you understand which products perform best and why.

5. Real-Time Indoor Logistics

Ariadne doesn’t just track people. It can follow any digital signal, including:

• Barcode scanners
• POS terminals
• Electronic shelf labels
• Cleaning or security robots
• This allows complete visibility of your store operations.

6. Two-Way Customer Engagement

Why should communication be one-sided?

With Ariadne, you can:

• Guide customers to products using interactive indoor maps
• Send personalized offers, once consent is given
• Leverage our GDPR-compliant consent management system

Final Thoughts

Ariadne’s signal-based people counting system is a privacy-first, cost-efficient, and scalable alternative to traditional camera-based solutions. Whether you manage one store or a global retail chain, Ariadne empowers you to make smarter decisions, optimize operations, and enhance customer experience.