Vispera

Vispera is a technology company specializing in computer vision and AI-driven analytics for the retail and consumer goods sectors. The firm provides image recognition-based services that transform shelf images into actionable data and key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling clients to monitor in-store execution, reduce out-of-stock instances, and optimize shelf-management.

The company was founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in early 2014 by a core team that included Dr. Ceyhun Burak Akgül and Prof. Aytül Erçil. Dr. Akgül, who serves as Co-CEO and COO, has a Ph.D. with a focus on visual recognition and previously worked at Vistek, a machine vision company that was co-founded by Erçil. Prof. Erçil, Co-CEO, holds a Ph.D. from Brown University and has a background in both academia and industry, including experience at GM Research Labs and founding Vistek in 1997. The pair decided to establish Vispera after the acquisition of Vistek, combining their extensive experience in image processing and machine learning. In 2021, the company transitioned to a Co-CEO model with Erçil focusing on international expansion and investment, while Akgül oversees business development, sales, operations, and product strategy.

Vispera’s business model centers on providing its technology as a service to CPG suppliers and grocery retailers. The company's core technology utilizes state-of-the-art convolutional and recurrent neural networks specifically tailored for retail environments, allowing for high accuracy in identifying SKUs even in challenging conditions like poor lighting or reflective cooler doors. This technology is delivered through two main product lines: 'Storesense', a mobile application for field teams to capture shelf images and receive instant reports, and 'Shelfsight', which uses fixed cameras for real-time, continuous shelf monitoring. The collected data is processed on the cloud, where KPIs such as on-shelf availability, share of shelf, planogram compliance, and pricing are calculated and delivered to clients through customizable dashboards and reports. This allows for immediate, in-store actions and strategic decision-making. Vispera serves clients in over 30 countries and has established global partnerships with technology companies like HP, Microsoft, and Zebra Technologies to expand its reach.

Keywords: retail analytics, image recognition, computer vision, CPG, retail execution, shelf monitoring, visual intelligence, AI in retail, machine learning, data analytics, out-of-stock reduction, planogram compliance, share of shelf, in-store data, retail technology, FMCG, retail intelligence, Storesense, Shelfsight, SKU recognition, promotions tracking, competitive intelligence