A stock discrepancy is a starting point for investigation, not an explanation. Goods may have been sold, returned, transferred, damaged or counted incorrectly. Footage can help review visible events, but it cannot repair missing inventory records by itself.
Before buying retail video analytics, identify the part of that investigation you need to improve. A clear process may reveal a camera gap, a record-keeping issue or a specific requirement worth testing with a supplier.
Establish the discrepancy first
Record the stock category, location and relevant count period. Compare receipts, sales, returns, transfers and authorised adjustments. Keep the references used in the reconciliation so another reviewer can follow the reasoning.
Narrow the time window using evidence rather than choosing a person to watch. If the last confirmed count was several days ago, say so. A broad unknown window should not be presented as a precise incident time.
Assign a responsible reviewer and keep access to sensitive records and footage limited to the people authorised to handle the investigation.
Check what the camera can actually show
Map the relevant receiving, storage, display and handover points to camera identifiers. Confirm that the view can show the action of interest under normal conditions. A general shop-floor image may not show an item changing hands clearly enough for the question being asked.
Check obstruction from customers, shelving, packaging and staff activity. Review recorded footage at its saved settings. Confirm the time shown against the business records and document any known offset before combining them.
Use the blind-spot review to record limitations. A gap in the picture should remain an explicit limitation, not a reason to infer what must have happened outside the view.
Build a small review index
An index can be a controlled worksheet maintained by the authorised reviewer. It does not require a claim that the CCTV automatically understands the stock transaction.
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Case reference | Connect the review to the stock discrepancy |
| Business record and time window | Explain why this period is relevant |
| Site and camera | Identify the source of the observation |
| Recording segment | Locate the material reviewed |
| Observation and limitation | Separate what is visible from what remains unknown |
| Next action and owner | Record the operational follow-up |
Keep factual observations separate from interpretations. If the camera shows movement of a package but cannot identify its contents, record that limit plainly.
Evaluate analytics against one task
A supported event or search feature may help narrow a review, but its purpose must be specific. Ask the supplier to demonstrate the proposed function using authorised, representative material and disclose the conditions it cannot handle.
Retail analytics can also mean operational counting rather than security investigation. For example, Axis People Counter documentation describes entrance counting and validation. That does not establish item tracking, transaction reconciliation or theft detection. Do not treat these different functions as one package by assumption.
If a supplier proposes integration with sales records, confirm the actual systems, fields and matching method. Have the team test the result before relying on it in a live review.
Measure investigation usefulness honestly
Choose a repeatable review task and record the time and steps needed with the existing process. During an evaluation, compare equivalent tasks and record unresolved cases as well as successful ones.
Do not translate a faster search into a guaranteed reduction in stock loss. That outcome needs a separate baseline and evidence over an appropriate period. Likewise, a detected event does not establish wrongdoing or justify an automatic accusation.
AI Alerto by PGAK can start with your store layout, camera count and one investigation requirement. The small-shop buying guide helps decide whether a limited evaluation is worthwhile. Bring a non-sensitive description of the problem; agree an authorised process before sharing footage or customer and staff records.
Common questions
Can a CCTV alert prove that missing stock was stolen?
No. A stock discrepancy needs reconciliation and context. Review the relevant business records and authorised footage before drawing conclusions about what happened.
What should be recorded before searching CCTV footage?
Record the item or stock category, affected location, known time window and relevant receipt, sale, return or transfer references. Confirm camera times and recording availability before narrowing the review.