Appriss Retail introduces AI and shared investigative reporting to fight ORC

Sept. 6, 2024
This solution is specifically designed to identify connections between incidents and streamline the investigative process.

Appriss Retail today announced a generative AI solution, Incident + ORC Intelligence, that automatically links incidents of theft, fraud, and abuse, enabling the seamless creation of comprehensive cases to help dismantle Organized Retail Crime (ORC) syndicates.

The new solution harnesses the power of Microsoft Azure AI Search and the advanced capabilities of Azure OpenAI Service models. The technology enables real-time searches across millions of incidents and provides investigators with sophisticated tools to process, summarize, and analyze related criminal activities.

This solution is specifically designed to identify connections between incidents, using key details such as suspects, narratives, vehicles, and other critical case information. This targeted approach significantly enhances the investigative process, helping investigators quickly pinpoint related cases.

Appriss Retail’s Incident + ORC Intelligence is purpose-built for the unique challenges of retail loss prevention and investigations. By providing tailored AI-driven insights, the solution empowers retailers to protect their profits more effectively.

Retailers are seeking more precise and aggressive tools to tackle retail crime. In 2022, the industry lost $112 billion to retail shrink, with ORC being a significant factor, according to the 2023 National Retail Security Survey. ORC drove a 15% increase in losses in 2022 compared to the year before, the report adds.

“AI can scan an endless amount of text and data quickly, immediately linking multiple incidents together and supporting the investigative process,” said Vishal Patel, chief technology officer, Appriss Retail. “We’re proud to be one of the first loss prevention specialists to integrate generative AI in a meaningful way. Retailers and law enforcement need tools that help them build and develop cases collaboratively.”

The Incident + ORC Intelligence product comes with:

  • Inclusive sharing: Loss prevention specialists can invite colleagues and broader investigative partners to participate in an investigation. Users can share notes, track progress, and send messages and feedback in real time.
  • Enhanced reporting details: With its generative AI capability, specialists can link criminal cases beyond basic incident details like suspect names and vehicles and analyze physical descriptions, report narratives, use of weapons, method of operation, and case summaries.
  • Complementary workflows. The solution integrates seamlessly into a retailer’s existing workflows with customizable reporting forms and is ready to use immediately.

Appriss Retail’s Incident + ORC Intelligence solution fills a gap in how law enforcement works with retailers on cases of ORC. The solution not only streamlines the investigative process but facilitates efficient prosecutions of ORC activities. It also provides law enforcement with detailed case files, including photos and evidence collected during the investigation, to help build a stronger case.

Incident + ORC Intelligence is available now as an add-on capability to Appriss Retail’s Incident solution.