IoT Applications for Smart Retail with LoRa® Technology

Transforming Retail Operations with LoRa Technology 

IoT is revolutionizing the retail industry, bringing intelligence and connectivity to stores, supply chains and customer experiences like never before. From smart inventory management to connected payment systems, IoT-enabled devices are transforming how retailers operate and engage with customers. By collecting and analyzing real-time data, these devices improve operational efficiency, enhance security, reduce waste, and create personalized shopping experiences for consumers. 

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the retail industry with innovative solutions for supply chain efficiencies, utility conservation, store security, real-time merchandise monitoring, and smart anti-theft devices for retail stores. Semtech's LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN® protocol provide an efficient platform for long range, low cost and easy to deploy IoT retail applications that extend across stores, warehouses, and distribution centers where traditional connectivity solutions fall short. 

The Role of LoRa in Smart Retail Sensors

At the core of smart retail technology are advanced sensors that enable seamless connectivity and real-time analytics. LoRa-enabled sensors power applications such as:

  • Inventory Management: Monitor stock levels, track merchandise movement and automate reordering processes for optimal inventory control.
  • Temperature Monitoring: Ensure food safety and quality in refrigerated sections with continuous cold chain monitoring.
  • Security and Loss Prevention: Detect theft, monitor high-value merchandise and provide real-time alerts to store personnel.
  • Customer Analytics: Track foot traffic patterns, dwell times and shopping behaviors to optimize store layouts and marketing strategies.

Generally, these are battery-operated devices deployed throughout retail environments including stockrooms, refrigeration units, display areas, parking lots, and distribution centers. These applications include smart tags for inventory tracking, temperature sensors for cold chain management, security sensors for loss prevention, people counters for analytics, asset trackers for valuable merchandise, and environmental monitors for optimal store conditions.

Why Choose LoRa Technology for Smart Retail?

Semtech's LoRa wireless radio frequency technology provides an ideal foundation for IoT-connected smart retail operations. Designed for low power consumption, extensive coverage and cost-effective deployment, LoRa-enabled devices ensure reliable connectivity across large retail spaces, warehouses and multi-location deployments. Operating on LoRaWAN networks, these devices offer scalable, flexible solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing retail technologies and point-of-sale systems.

Real-World Benefits of LoRa-Connected Smart Retail

By integrating LoRa-enabled devices, smart retail operations achieve:

  • Enhanced Efficiency: Optimize inventory management and supply chain operations with automated tracking and real-time visibility.
  • Improved Security: Protect merchandise with advanced anti-theft systems and comprehensive store monitoring solutions.
  • Reduced Waste: Minimize food spoilage and inventory losses through precise temperature monitoring and predictive analytics.
  • Better Customer Experience: Create personalized shopping experiences with data-driven insights and optimized store operations.

Getting Started with Smart Retail Sensors

Smart retail devices featuring LoRa ICs and connected store automation offer many benefits, such as cost savings, operational efficiency and enhanced customer satisfaction. Prevalent smart retail sensor use cases include:

  • Inventory tracking and management.
  • Cold chain temperature monitoring.
  • Asset security and theft prevention.
  • Customer traffic analytics.
  • Energy usage optimization.
  • Environmental condition monitoring.
  • Smart shelving and displays.
  • Supply chain visibility.
  • Equipment health monitoring.
  • Parking lot occupancy detection.
  • Water leak detection for store protection.

White Papers

Download white papers for exclusive content offering more thorough technical analyses of smart retail applications. Find all LoRa white papers here >>

Transportation providers, healthcare, food services, and many other verticals want to replace inefficient manual processes with geolocation asset management solutions that offer long range communication and ultra-low power consumption. This e-book details five asset management applications incorporating geolocation services and data.
Transforming Geolocation With LoRa®
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The future of IoT in retail will see retailers using IoT to support their business in a wide variety of areas including real-time merchandise, supply chain, utility conservation, store security, and more. This e-book details five smart retail applications used to enhance and improve the retail sales experience.
Transforming Smart Retail With LoRa
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food safety and asset quality management white paper Axino has successfully leveraged Semtech's LoRa devices, combining LoRa sensors with artificial intelligence algorithms, to remotely and automatically detect and manage refrigerated food temperatures within one degree Celsius.
Disrupting Cold Chain Refrigeration & Improving Food Quality by Taking a Fresh Approach to Asset Quality Management
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Infographics

Discover IoT applications in the retail industry for LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol by downloading an infographic. 

Day in a Life Infographic Learn how LoRa, the long range low power technology from Semtech, and the LoRaWAN standard have the power to change our world and transform our daily lives.
A Day in a Life With LoRa
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We believe every IoT device should have a low power geolocation ready feature –whether it's a mobile asset or a fixed asset. This is now possible, thanks to LoRa® devices, the LoRaWAN® standard and the LoRa Edge™ asset management platform.
The Future of Geolocation Has Arrived
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How LoRa enables smart retail infographic InVue LIVE® is a connected IoT platform developed for the retail sector to track, monitor and manage store operations in real time. Learn more about anti-theft monitoring, in-store inventory tracking, wireless displays, and planogram reporting applications with LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN protocol.
InVue and LoRa® Enable Smart Retail
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Real World Deployments

See how retailers using IoT based on LoRa devices have enabled efficiencies in these real-world smart retail deployments.

Swiss Post “Order Pens” leverage Semtech’s LoRa® devices and the LoRaWAN® standard, to provide universal postal service to Swiss citizens and businesses. 

On-Demand Postal Services
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LoRa smart retail operations

InVue leverages LoRa Core™ products and the LoRaWAN protocol in its InVue LIVE solutions for retail display, security and operations to improve retail profitability and security. 

Smart Retail Operations
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LoRa smart energy monitoring

EasyReach's LoRa-based EasyPlug tracks energy consumption and movement in retail refrigerators, machines to prevent waste, theft and tampering.

Connected Plugs for Energy Monitoring
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LoRa-bases food waste prevention

GND Solutions' LoRa-based smart refrigeration solutions help restaurants reduce food waste and enabled one five-star restaurant to reduce food management operational costs up to 40 percent. 

Food Waste Prevention
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LoRa-based food safety & temperature monitoring solutions

CM Systems, LLC, in collaboration with Laird Connectivity, integrated LoRa into ComplianceMate, a food safety temperature monitoring solution used by retailers such as Shake Shack, Five Guys, Hard Rock Cafe, City Barbeque, and Hattie B's, preventing inventory loss due to unsafe food storage temperatures. 

Food Safety Temperature Monitoring
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LoRa-based smart refrigeration solution

Axino Solutions's LoRa-based smart refrigeration solutions track food temperature for the food retail industry, with global deployments in supermarket chains such as Migros, resulting in hundreds of thousands of Euros in savings per year. 

Smart Refrigeration Solutions
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Use Cases

Learn more about specific IoT use cases in retail leveraging LoRa devices.

LoRa-based smart water leak detection monitor Apana's LoRa-based smart water leakage detection solution enables global corporations, like Costco, to track water usage in real time.
Smart Water Leakage Detection
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Videos

Videos featuring retail IoT applications based on LoRa are presented below. Watch all LoRa videos here >>

Axino Disrupts Cold Chain Refrigeration to Ensure Food Quality
LoRa-based Smart Water Metering with Apana