Retail Trust, a charity supporting retail workers, has partnered with SAI, an active intelligence provider for stores, to enhance employee safety and wellbeing. The partnership aims to leverage technology to address in-store violence and staff abuse through innovative solutions, education, and cultural change.
SAI’s approach combines facial recognition technology with generative artificial intelligence to transform traditional store surveillance systems into a real-time operational platform. SAI already collaborates with the UK’s top four grocery chains, along with Iceland and OurCoop, to reduce violence and abuse.
Funds generated from SAI’s systems are pooled into a charitable trust dedicated to supporting causes that promote store safety. These funds aid initiatives focused on colleague protection, rehabilitation programs for individuals struggling with addiction who engage in shoplifting, and broader work with law enforcement and justice communities.
Helen Wilde, co-founder and chief commercial officer at SAI, emphasized the company’s mission: “When we launched SAI, we knew we never wanted to profit from violence – we’d rather there was no need for this technology at all. But with more and more retailers coming to us to tackle the problem, we decided to ensure revenues generated from this part of the business were used to do good, and to give back.”
The partnership will also focus on developing new methods to address repeat offenders. Research from the Retail Industry Leaders Association estimates that the top 10% of repeat retail offenders account for up to 70% of in-store crime. SAI’s efforts aim to reduce retail loss while creating safer environments for employees and communities.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, stated, “We’re grateful for SAI’s support as we explore new ways of protecting retail workers against abuse, violence and theft and the impact this can have on their wellbeing. Our partnership will build on the help the Retail Trust is already providing to hundreds of retailers and people working across the industry to create happier and safer retail workplaces.”
The collaboration coincides with SAI’s upcoming launch of its Safer Stores initiative, which unites major retailers, crime and justice organizations, rehabilitation groups, and technology providers under a shared goal of improving safety in physical retail spaces.
