2025's Best Commercial Camera Solutions for Retail

Retail shrinkage has reached critical levels across the globe, evolving far beyond simple shoplifting into a complex crisis of organized crime and operational waste. In the UK alone, offenses reached a two-decade high in 2025, while Canadian retailers report theft costing nearly $68 billion annually (Source: Betakit). But the financial loss is only half the story. The hidden cost lies in the data you aren't using. Most retailers record petabytes of video that no one ever watches, leaving 99% of potential insights—from safety hazards to conversion opportunities—locked away in dormant hardware.

Modern commercial camera solutions for retail have shifted from passive recording devices to active Video AI Agents. These systems act as force multipliers for your team, detecting threats and operational bottlenecks in real time rather than simply documenting crime after the fact. With the AI Video Analytics Market projected to reach nearly $64.5 billion by 2035 (Source: Snsinsider), the standard for 2025 is a platform that empowers you to reduce shrinkage, automate retail safety and security solutions, and turn video into a strategic asset without ripping and replacing your infrastructure.

This guide analyzes the top commercial camera solutions for retail, comparing their ability to deliver proactive retail security, operational intelligence, and scalable deployment.

At-a-glance: top 8 commercial camera solutions for retail

Deep dive: 2025's best commercial camera solutions for retail

Spot AI

• Core technology capabilities and specifications: Spot AI is a video intelligence platform that transforms any ONVIF-compliant IP camera into a smart data source. Its hybrid architecture uses an on-site Intelligent Video Recorder (IVR) for edge processing and secure cloud storage for actionable video insights. The system deploys Video AI Agents that act as junior teammates, automating tasks like people counting technology for retail, vehicle tracking, and automated loitering detection.

• Implementation requirements and timeline: Spot AI is designed for speed. Most retail stores go live in under a week because the system is camera-agnostic—you don't need to replace your existing fleet. Tidewater Fleet Supply avoided $250–$500 per camera in upgrade costs by using Spot AI to unify 14 locations onto a single dashboard (Source: Spot AI).

• Total cost considerations: The hybrid model significantly lowers TCO by extending the life of legacy hardware. Subscription pricing is all-inclusive, covering software updates, cloud storage, and advanced AI features without hidden licensing fees.

• Integration capabilities with existing systems: The open API architecture ensures seamless connection with POS systems for exception based reporting retail, access control, and inventory platforms. This allows retailers to correlate visual data for retail with transaction logs to detect sweet-hearting or refund fraud.

• Target use cases and industry applications:
  Ideal for retailers needing multi-location retail security systems that standardize loss prevention and operations. Key use cases include organized retail crime prevention, retail dwell time analytics for merchandising, and reducing false alarms in retail through contextual AI.

Avigilon

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  Avigilon delivers evidence-grade imaging with high-resolution 36x optical zoom PTZ cameras. Its proprietary Appearance Search technology allows operators to sort video by physical descriptions, making it a strong tool for forensic investigation after an incident.

• Deployment requirements and timeline:
  Installations are hardware-intensive. Large-format retailers should expect timelines of several weeks for configuration, particularly when integrating with complex on-premise servers.

• Overall cost considerations:
  Avigilon commands premium pricing due to its specialized hardware. While the image quality is superior, the high upfront capital expenditure can be a barrier for SMBs or retailers with tight margins.

• Compatibility with existing systems:
  It integrates well with standard VMS and access control but often functions best within its own hardware ecosystem, potentially limiting flexibility for mixed-hardware environments.

• Primary applications and industry scenarios:
  Best suited for large shopping centers or environments where long-range, high-definition evidence collection is the primary goal.

Pelco

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  Pelco offers an open-platform architecture with NDAA-compliant hardware. Its systems feature built-in AI analytics for threat detection and support integration with POS data for transaction verification.

• Setup requirements and timeline:
  Deployment can be lengthy, especially for enterprise clients using the Special Modification Request program for bespoke hardware needs.

• Total investment considerations:
  Custom enterprise solutions come at a premium. The investment is justified for retailers with unique environmental constraints but may be excessive for standard store layouts.

• Integration potential with existing systems:
  Strong API support makes Pelco a viable option for complex tech stacks, integrating with diverse VMS and access control providers.

• Target scenarios and industry applications:
  Enterprise retailers and supply chain facilities that require highly customized hardware configurations.

Hikvision

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  Hikvision provides a vast ecosystem including video security, access control, and VCA (Video Content Analytics) for retail heat mapping cameras and queue analysis.

• Deployment process and timeline:
  Setup is generally straightforward for mid-market retailers, using primarily on-premise NVRs with optional cloud access.

• Total cost analysis:
  Hikvision is often the low-cost leader for analytics-rich hardware. However, geopolitical concerns and NDAA compliance issues may create hidden costs or legal risks for certain businesses.

• Integration with existing systems:
  While it connects with POS and access control, the ecosystem is somewhat closed, encouraging the use of proprietary hardware for all functions.

• Ideal use cases and industry applications:
  Budget-conscious retailers who prioritize feature density over open architecture or compliance flexibility.

Axis Communications

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  Axis is a leader in network-centric, cybersecure solutions. Features like AXIS Live Privacy Shield allow for dynamic masking to protect customer privacy, while audio-video integration supports contextual talkdowns.

• Implementation needs and timeline:
  Cloud-first installation simplifies multi-site management, but heavy reliance on cloud transmission can strain retail networks with limited bandwidth.

• Overall cost considerations:
  Infrastructure costs are lower due to reduced on-premise server needs, but high-bandwidth cloud subscriptions can escalate operational costs over time.

• Compatibility with existing systems:
  Excellent support for open APIs and VMS integration makes Axis a strong choice for compliance-heavy sectors.

• Primary applications and industry scenarios:
  Retailers with strict cybersecurity mandates or those needing integrated audio for remote announcements.

Hanwha Vision

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  Hanwha Vision's WiseNet X series emphasizes edge-based processing. By performing analytics on the camera itself, it reduces bandwidth load and supports real-time object detection.

• Deployment requirements and timeline:
  Flexible deployment options include cloud, hybrid, or edge-only. However, the analytics often require a training period to tune data for specific environments.

• Total investment considerations:
  A cost-effective choice for TAA/NDAA compliant hardware. Edge processing reduces ongoing cloud storage costs but requires a higher initial investment in smart cameras.

• Integration potential with existing systems:
  Open architecture supports integration with various POS and inventory systems, facilitating retail inventory protection strategies.

• Target scenarios and industry applications:
  Government-contracted retail sites or businesses requiring compliance-certified hardware with low bandwidth impact.

Genetec

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  Genetec Security Center is a unified platform that correlates video, access control, and license plate recognition (LPR) data. It excels at complex incident management and centralized video management.

• Setup requirements and timeline:
  This is an enterprise-grade solution requiring significant IT involvement. Deployments are complex and time-consuming compared to plug-and-play alternatives.

• Total cost analysis:
  High licensing and implementation costs make this suitable primarily for large-scale operations where unified command centers are necessary.

• Integration with existing systems:
  Extensive support for third-party hardware and software allows for a highly tailored security ecosystem.

• Ideal use cases and industry applications:
  Large department stores, malls, or retailers consolidating multiple disparate security systems into one view.

March Networks

• Core technology capabilities and specifications:
  March Networks focuses heavily on the QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) and banking sectors. Its Searchlight software fuses POS data with video to provide deep transaction analytics and sweet-hearting detection.

• Deployment process and timeline:
  Cloud-based setup is efficient for standardized small-footprint locations like fast-casual dining.

• Overall cost considerations:
  Subscription models are affordable for QSR franchises, though the system offers less utility for broad operational analytics outside of transactions.

• Compatibility with existing systems:
  Deep integration with POS and mobile order apps helps track retail conversion rate tracking and order accuracy.

• Primary applications and industry scenarios:
  Fast-casual dining, QSRs, and retailers where transaction fraud is the primary source of shrinkage.

Book a demo to see active deterrence in action

The right commercial camera system is a tool for creating safer stores, enabling smarter operations, and protecting profitability. Spot AI puts Video AI Agents, operational efficiency, and store safety within reach for every retailer, regardless of IT resources. By upgrading legacy CCTV with AI, you can cut investigation times from hours to minutes and stop incidents before they escalate.

"When we figure out the correct placement of our Kobe jersey within the store, that typically increases sales by 5% to 15% because we're able to pull traffic into other areas and get ideas on other products that pair with it."
Andrew Gonzalez, Corporate Director of Loss Prevention and Safety, All Star Elite

Ready to turn your cameras into junior teammates? Book a demo to discover how Spot AI can help you run a safer, smarter, and more profitable retail operation.

Frequently asked questions

What are the key benefits of Video AI Agents for retail?

Video AI Agents transform passive cameras into active teammates. They automate the detection of threats like loitering or perimeter breaches, enabling proactive retail security. Beyond security, they provide operational data such as retail dwell time analytics and queue management system retail insights, helping you optimize staffing and store layout.

Can I use my existing cameras with new AI video analytics platforms?

Yes. Camera-agnostic video analytics platforms like Spot AI connect to your existing ONVIF-compliant IP cameras. This allows you to upgrade legacy CCTV with AI capabilities without the capital expense of replacing functional hardware.

How does AI video analytics improve operational efficiency in retail?

AI analytics provide visibility into store operations that manual monitoring cannot match. By using people counting technology for retail and heat mapping, managers can identify peak traffic times to optimize retail store operations. Integrating video with POS data also helps identify training gaps and reduce internal shrinkage through exception based reporting retail.

About the author

Amrish Kapoor is VP of Engineering at Spot AI, leading platform and product engineering teams that build the scalable edge-cloud and AI infrastructure behind Spot AI's video AI—powering operations, safety, and security use cases.