Types of Door Counter Sensors

Every business is unique and that means there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to track your customer traffic. Our goal at CountWise is to make sure each of our clients understands the options that are available and how they work, so they can make an informed choice that delivers the data they need.

CountWise offers an array of door counter devices and systems to choose from. The first choice you’ll need to make relates to where your door counter sensor is placed. There are two options:

• Overhead sensors are mounted on the ceiling over the door or at the entrance to your building or store. They send an electronic beam downward to count each person who enters your building.
• Horizontal beam sensors are installed on either side of the door to your business. They send electronic beams across the space to count each person as they enter your space.

Next, you’ll need to think about how and when you want to count people. You have the option of choosing a solution that will provide a simple count of people passing through the exit or one that differentiates between incoming and outgoing traffic.

• Unidirectional people counting systems typically provide a simple count of people as they enter and leave your store. They do not distinguish between arrivals and departures. If you choose this type of people counter, you can divide the total count by two to figure out the number of customers in your store in any given period.
• Bidirectional counters offer the most accurate option because they are able to differentiate between arriving and departing visitors. They do a better job than unidirectional counters in providing real-time occupancy information and an accurate count of the customers who visit your business in a given time frame.

Finally, you’ll need to choose between wired and wireless technology:

• Wired door counting technology requires an outlet to work properly. You will need to be have an outlet near the door where you wish to install your people counting system.
• Wireless technology features a battery-operated people counter that doesn’t require an outlet to work properly.

Which Door Counter Type is Right for My Business?

For the best results, you should evaluate your business and determine which door counter type is right for you. We can help you select the CountWise people counting solution that’s best suited to your needs.

There are several factors that may impact your decision. These factors include:

• The type of door you have. If you have a sliding door, then a horizontal sensor will work for you. They do not work with swinging doors because the door itself may interfere with the electronic beams that count people as they enter or depart your business.
• The size of your entrance. If your building or store has a wide entrance that allows more than one patron to arrive or depart at the same time, you should choose an overhead sensor. A horizontal sensor might miss people who enter in pairs or clusters. Horizontal sensors work best on narrow entrances.
• Network connections. Our wired digital sensors require a network connection to work properly, as well as an outlet near the door. If you do not meet the technical requirements, you should choose a wireless option instead.
• Store layout. Some stores have product displays that encourage browsing near the entrance. If that’s something you have in your business, then you may want to opt for an overhead sensor, which will be able to capture people even if they stop to browse near the door of your business.
• Your data and reporting needs. Some businesses need only a daily customer count to help them fine-tune their marketing plans. Others prefer hourly counts. For a daily count, you can choose a unidirectional counter to get what you need. For hourly counts, choose a bidirectional counter for the most accurate results.

If you’re still not certain which CountWise solution is best suited to your business needs, our team of experts is here to answer your questions, evaluate your needs, and help you select the right door counting solution for your space and your business goals.

Frequently Asked Questions about Door Counters

• How do door counters work?

Door counters work by sending an electronic beam across a door, entryway, or exit that senses people as they arrive or depart from your store to calculate the number of people who visit your business every day. Some counters provide a simple headcount, while others can differentiate between arriving and departing customers.

• How can a door counter device help my business?

Door counter devices can help your business in a variety of ways. For example, they can help you figure out your busiest times of day, so you can avoid over- or under-staffing your store. They can help you determine which areas of your store get the most traffic, which can be useful for reorganizing to minimize congestion. They can also make it easy to identify your busiest and least busy days, which can be useful if you want to hold a sale or run a promotion. The bottom line is that they can help you serve your customers and manage your business more effectively by providing the data you need.

• How do door counters calculate conversion rates?

If you don’t keep track of how many customers visit your business, it can be difficult to judge the success of a promotion or sale. On the other hand, with a door counter, you’ll know exactly how many people come in and how that traffic differs from the same day last week or even last year. You can use your overall traffic numbers and your daily sales numbers to calculate your conversion rate.

• How does a door counter system measure marketing effectiveness?

CountWise offers detailed business analytics that can help you fine-tune your marketing plans and strategies. These include analyzing traffic flows, calculating conversions, comparing traffic counts before, during, and after marketing campaigns, and tracking the KPIs you select to determine the impact of your marketing strategies.