The first, and maybe the most important advantage of using shelf cameras on shelf is being cost-effective. Budget 5,000 USD will cover the cost of shelf cameras for a middle supermarket, while some other approaches like AI robots, or 3D trellis diagrams easily costs much more.
The second advantage of shelf cameras is the updates being almost real-time, when the robots need about one hour a patrol of the entire store. Last but not least, shelf cameras are employed to locate and track the correct positions of the products on shelves. This solution is usually working along with the ESL, the Electronic Shelf Labels. However, despite these advantages, there is some facts we need to know before we become optimist.
People don't like to be 'monitored'. Some think it's anti-theft devices, but actually no. Even people realise that, they hate to face to cameras when they are shopping.
They are usually placed on the exterier space of the shelf, which makes it easy to be damaged.
If you want to make it hard to notice, and resistent, the cost is quite high.
For making use of the functions, it's almost obligatory for you to purchase the ESL, and not all ESL support.
When there is too many customers in the store, the view of shelf cameras become blocked.