Image Annotation

Product Classification and Image Annotation for Retail

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Industry Retail, Shelf Monitoring
Timeline 4 months
Data 100,000 images of store shelves
Image
Industry Retail, Shelf Monitoring
Timeline 4 months
Data 100,000 images of store shelves

Task

A retail analytics company approached us with the goal of automating in-store shelf monitoring. They aimed to train a computer vision system that could identify individual products on grocery store shelves, recognize stock levels, and evaluate the effectiveness of promotions in real time.

The main challenge was the sheer variety of products — across dozens of categories, each with multiple packaging types, formats, and brand-specific designs.

Objectives:

  • Annotate 100,000 shelf images with precise product classification
  • Build a highly structured dataset
  • Ensure category consistency despite diverse SKUs and frequent packaging changes

Solution

  • 01

    Dual-Team Structure for Efficiency and Accuracy

    We split the project into two specialized annotation streams:

    • The first team conducted in-depth product research and defined category-specific annotation requirements. This included cataloging SKUs, subtypes, and promotional packaging for each brand and product line.
    • The second team focused exclusively on image annotation, using the detailed taxonomy and visual references created by the first group. This allowed us to annotate at scale without compromising accuracy, even when product lines overlapped visually.

     

  • 02

    Systematic Workflow and Ongoing QA

    • We established a continuous feedback loop between the teams and the client to clarify edge cases, handle ambiguous packaging, and update classification rules.
    • Daily QA checks and regular cross-team audits ensured annotation quality remained consistent throughout the project.

Results

  • 100,000 images annotated over 4 months without delays

  • Up to 40% cost reduction due to optimized team structure and task division

  • The final dataset enabled the client to launch real-time retail analytics, improving promotional tracking and shelf planning across their partner stores

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