SOLVING RETAIL CRIME THROUGH AI TECH

In 2012, Phil Thomson and his co-founders launched Auror, a crime reporting platform, in response to the staggering annual loss of over a hundred billion dollars faced by retailers globally. Their goal was to address the lack of effective technology for reporting, solving, and preventing retail crime.

Today, Auror is embraced by 85 percent of enterprise retailers in New Zealand. It has significantly streamlined the process of reporting crime internally and to the police, enabling law enforcement to focus on the top ten percent of offenders responsible for 60 percent of the losses.

In the past, information on retail crime was scattered across different systems, often limited to spreadsheets. Privacy concerns were overlooked as retailers shared details on platforms like WhatsApp. Auror emerged as a solution, emphasizing “Privacy by Design” to safeguard every aspect of its platform.

Phil Thomson explains, “This securely held information provides retailers with better visibility of offending, empowering their frontline teams to tackle crime safely.” Auror captures structured data, allowing direct reporting to the police, eliminating the need for retailers to double-handle the reporting process.

A decade of operation in New Zealand has fostered increased collaboration between retailers and the police. The digitized relationship offers improved visibility of offending, unveiling clear patterns across multiple stores. Recognizing that most crime is profit-motivated and organized, Auror’s network helps retailers adapt their operations to deter offenders.

Looking ahead, Auror acknowledges the vital role of new technology and artificial intelligence globally. In the past two years, the company has been actively incorporating AI and other technologies into its framework, aiming to share this knowledge with others to ensure a positive impact on communities worldwide.

Source: Super Market News