Aisle 24 is a new breed of 24-hour convenience stores popping up across Canada. These cashierless, high-tech markets are designed to make shopping for groceries and last-minute items in close proximity to home and work frictionless.
“These are hyper-local urban grocery stores,” says John Douang, co-founder and CEO of Aisle 24. “They’re accessible to anyone who has an account with us. Aisle 24 has become a really popular amenity in upscale residential buildings and universities. People can go shopping in their pyjamas and grab a snack at three in the morning if they want, without ever having to leave the premises. It’s the epitome of convenience.”
Registration takes less than 60 seconds, during which customers tie their credit card and photo to their account. Customers can then access stores using the app. Once inside, they can browse, load their cart, and then self-checkout at the register kiosk.
Complex access control made seamless for customers
Because Aisle 24 stores are cashier-less operations, the corporation has been particularly attentive to creating a secure environment for shoppers. They hired Smart Installs, a systems integrator and Axis partner, to devise an automated security infrastructure that could easily adapt to the footprint of individual stores. The so
lution integrates a mix of technologies from Axis – surveillance cameras, intercoms, and mini speakers.
“We chose Axis technology because it’s built on an open platform, which allows for a lot of third-party integration,” says Ken Oki, Managing Director for Smart Installs. “That was important for Aisle 24™ since it g
ives them a wider range of options for current and future customisation.”
2N Verso intercom
Because community-format stores have street-level access and can be opened by anyone with an Aisle 24 membership, Smart Installs implemented a dual interlocking door system for added safety. Once the customer passes through the public-facing door controlled by a 2N IP Verso intercom for security, they’re held in a vestibule until that door closes. A second 2N intercom unlocks the inner door to the store. However, Aisle 24’s resident format stores only have a single-door lock configuration since they are located inside secure complexes and are only accessible to residents of that property.
“We want the customer experience to be as natural and secure as possible,” explains Ken Oki. “When they approach the store, they just hit the ACCESS icon on their phone app, and the Bluetooth enable 2N® intercom unlocks the outer door. The second intercom displays a WAIT message when they enter the vestibule until the outer door closes and locks. Then the inner intercom displays an UNLOCKED message and they can enter the store. They never have to touch the intercoms.”
Fixed camera at Aisle 24
Once inside the store, patrons are recorded by a network of Axis M-line cameras purposely angled to monitor their movement through the store and the checkout kiosk, which generally discourages theft. As they exit, an Axis P-line pinhole modular camera discreetly captures a closeup of their face. The footage can be used with Aisle 24’s AI analytics and point-of-sale records to help franchise owners investigate inventory losses and reconcile discrepancies with individual customer purchases.
In keeping with the unattended business model, the security system also allows cashier-less store restocking through the versatile 2N intercom’s ability also to accept pin codes. Aisle 24 issues its product vendors unique pin codes to unlock stores so they can restock store shelves without the franchise owner needs to be on the premises. To support popular third-party shopping services, Aisle 24 can also dynamically issue temporary, time-based pin codes for individual personal shoppers to access a specific store.