Case Studies
RetailNext Review (2026): Worth It for Enterprise? Honest Verdict
560+ brands, 100K+ sensors, Battery Ventures-backed. We tested the Aurora platform — see real accuracy, pricing tier, and the 3 cheaper alternatives for sub-50 stores.
9 min read ·
Key Takeaways
- RetailNext serves 560+ brands across 100+ countries with 100,000+ sensors deployed
- Aurora sensor platform provides traffic counting, video security, and shopper journey mapping in one device
- SOC 2 Type II certified — the highest data security standard in retail analytics
- Won the VIP Award for Best Retail Insights 2025
- Received a majority growth investment from Battery Ventures to accelerate innovation
RetailNext is the industry's leading enterprise retail analytics platform, serving 560+ brands across 100+ countries with over 100,000 sensors deployed globally. Their Aurora sensor platform delivers traffic analytics, shopper journey mapping, and asset protection from a single device, while their cloud-based intelligence platform provides the deepest analytics in the industry. Brands like Macy's, Estée Lauder, Calvin Klein, Sephora, Bloomingdale's, and Swarovski rely on RetailNext for data-driven store optimization. Visit retailnext.net for full details.
What Is RetailNext?
RetailNext is more than a people counting company — it's a comprehensive retail intelligence platform. While foot traffic counting is the foundation, RetailNext extends into shopper journey analysis (tracking how customers move through a store), path analysis (identifying high and low-traffic zones), staff-shopper interaction measurement, and even asset protection with built-in video security. The company is SOC 2 Type II certified, meaning their data security practices meet the highest standards in the industry, and they recently received a majority growth investment from Battery Ventures.
The Aurora Sensor Platform
RetailNext's Aurora sensor is a unified hardware platform that replaces multiple single-purpose devices. A single Aurora sensor can simultaneously count traffic, record video for security and auditing, map shopper journeys, and measure occupancy. The sensor uses AI-powered computer vision to process video on-device, sending only anonymized analytics data to the cloud. This approach reduces hardware costs (one device instead of three), simplifies installation, and provides retailers with instant access to high-resolution recorded video for self-service audits at no extra cost.
RetailNext Solutions by Department
- Operations — traffic, conversion, occupancy management, and staff schedule optimization to reduce labor costs
- Asset Protection — complete video coverage, instant access to snapshots/video on desktop and mobile, cloud-based investigation tools
- Merchandising — dwell times, conversion data by product category, shopper journey measurement, visual merchandising compliance auditing
- Store Design — data-driven A/B testing of layouts using Shopper Journey, with support from RetailNext's team of retail data scientists
- Marketing — real-time campaign traffic attribution, A/B testing of initiatives, unified online-offline journey connection
The RetailNext platform gives us that edge with the ability to deep dive into store data and better understand our customers. As a technologically advanced company with a global footprint, we appreciate the capabilities that RetailNext offers to our brand.
Razer Inc.
RetailNext Accuracy & Scale
RetailNext claims to have the most advanced traffic system ever built, and their scale supports that claim: 100,000+ sensors across 100+ countries, 15+ years of retail data, and 560+ brands. The Aurora platform achieves 98%+ accuracy through AI-powered computer vision that can distinguish between shoppers, staff, children, and objects. The cloud-based architecture means all stores feed into a single analytics platform with enterprise-grade reporting, benchmarking, and automated insights.
RetailNext Global Footprint
- Years — Value: 15
- Brands — Value: 560
- Countries — Value: 100
- Sensors (thousands) — Value: 100
RetailNext vs Competitors
| Feature | RetailNext | V-Count | FootfallCam | TraxSales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | 560+ brands, 100+ countries | 600+ companies | Thousands since 2002 | Specialty retail focus |
| Sensor Platform | Aurora (unified) | 3D AI Sensors | 6 sensor types | AI/Video camera |
| Shopper Journey | Full path analysis | Heatmaps only | Basic path | No |
| Asset Protection | Integrated video | No | No | Visual verification only |
| Data Security | SOC 2 Type II | GDPR compliant | Privacy-First AI | Standard |
| Price Range | Enterprise | Premium | Mid-Range | Premium |
| Implementation | Weeks–months | Days–weeks | Days–weeks | 1 hour |
| Target Customer | Enterprise 100+ stores | Malls & large venues | Multi-location retail | Specialty retail |
RetailNext Pros and Cons
RetailNext People Counting & Analytics
Pros
- Industry-leading analytics depth: shopper journey, path analysis, dwell time, demographics
- Aurora unified sensor replaces multiple single-purpose devices
- SOC 2 Type II certified — highest data security standard
- 560+ brands across 100+ countries — proven at enterprise scale
- Built-in video security and asset protection reduces total hardware cost
- Dedicated retail data scientists available for insights support
Cons
- Enterprise pricing — significantly more expensive than mid-range and budget options
- Long implementation cycle — weeks to months for full deployment
- Requires dedicated analyst or data team to extract maximum value
- Overkill for small retailers or single-location stores
- Cloud-only deployment may not suit organizations requiring on-premise data storage
Final Verdict
RetailNext is the gold standard for enterprise retail analytics. If you operate 100+ stores, need shopper journey insights beyond simple counting, and want a platform that combines traffic, video security, and merchandising analytics into one unified solution, RetailNext is unmatched. The enterprise price point and implementation complexity mean it's not the right fit for small retailers or organizations with simple counting needs — but for brands like Sephora, Macy's, and Swarovski that rely on data-driven retail operations at scale, there is no better option.
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