Auror wins retail award for facial recognition tool

Auror has received a New Conceptual Solutions award from the Loss Prevention Research Council for its Subject Recognition product. Retail members of the research group voted on the award.

The recognition centres on a facial recognition management tool designed for crime prevention and store safety. Auror said the module sits around facial recognition technology, applying data governance rules and controlled workflows in retail settings.

According to Auror, Subject Recognition is intended to work with a retailer's existing information on serious offending and give store teams early notification. The system includes human review at key decision points, full audit trails, and restrictions intended to prevent profiling or in-store tracking.

The Loss Prevention Research Council presented the award during the National Retail Federation's NRF PROTECT event, where Subject Recognition was selected in the New Conceptual Solutions category.

How It Works

Auror describes Subject Recognition as an add-on to its wider retail crime intelligence platform. Retailers use the software to record suspected crime incidents after they occur and share structured information with law enforcement.

Auror said its platform is used in more than 85,000 stores and by more than 3,500 law enforcement agencies across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. That footprint places the company among the more widely deployed specialist software providers in retail loss prevention.

Facial recognition in shops remains contentious for retailers, technology suppliers, and civil liberties groups, with debate often focused on privacy, consent, and the risk of misuse. Auror frames the product as a tool for crime prevention and safety rather than broader customer monitoring.

James Corbett, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Auror, said the product was designed around those limits. "We built Subject Recognition on the belief that facial recognition for retail settings can be designed and used responsibly," he said. "Subject Recognition wraps the workflow and data governance around the facial recognition technology to lock its use for crime prevention and safety purposes only, with a human in the loop at every key decision. We're honored that the LPRC has recognized our thoughtful approach to this technology, and we're grateful for the retailers who voted. Their confidence in Auror motivates us to demonstrate how responsible technology can keep frontline retail workers safe and create safer stores."

Retailer Vote

The Loss Prevention Research Council said the award reflects the views of retailers involved in the voting process. It linked the recognition to industry efforts to respond to theft, safety risks, and other pressures facing store operators.

Dr. Justin Smith, Senior Research Scientist at the Loss Prevention Research Council, said the awards reflect collaborative work on retail risk and highlighted the retailer-led voting process. "Our awards showcase the power of working together to address today's retail challenges and shape a safer, more resilient future," he said. "Our awards are voted on by retailers, providing a meaningful opportunity for organizations to receive recognition for their innovative approach to loss prevention and keeping stores safe. Congratulations to Auror for being honored in the New Conceptual Solutions category by our retail members."

The award adds outside recognition to a product area drawing increased attention as retailers look for ways to address repeat offending and organised retail crime while managing legal and reputational risks around surveillance tools. By focusing on workflow controls, auditability, and human oversight, Auror is positioning Subject Recognition within a narrower operational use case than some facial recognition deployments in the wider market.

Auror said its platform helps retailers identify prolific and organised offenders by connecting incident data gathered across stores. It also said structured reporting can support collaboration with police, with the software already deployed across thousands of law enforcement agencies.