Cisco Enables In-Store Visitor Tracking for Retailers

Retailers can now leverage existing wireless networks to analyze store traffic and deliver automated customer promotions.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Retail

Isometric editorial illustration of a modern, minimalist retail aisle with a clean grid floor and shelf structure. — Cisco launched its DNA Spaces platform, allowing retailers to use existing wireless networks to track store traffic and automate customer marketing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust retailers to protect your privacy when tracking your movements through in-store Wi-Fi?

Cisco has launched the DNA Spaces platform, which utilizes existing wireless infrastructure to track visitor movement within physical stores. Retailers can monitor traffic patterns and send targeted promotions to customers who connect to their Wi-Fi networks.

Why it matters

The platform allows brick-and-mortar operators to leverage their existing wireless network as a data-collection tool, potentially increasing marketing ROI and informing floor-plan optimization.

The platform integrates Cisco Connected Mobile Experiences and software from July Systems to unify tracking across Cisco Aironet and Meraki wireless access points. The total number of retail facilities expected to adopt the new analytics capability remains unknown.

The players

Cisco

A global leader in networking hardware and enterprise software that provides the foundational infrastructure for connectivity.

July Systems

A software company focused on location-based mobile solutions that provides the cloud-based components for this integration.

The details

DNA Spaces captures data on visit duration, frequency, and specific location by identifying mobile phone IP addresses once users connect to the store Wi-Fi. This activity data flows to third-party applications, enabling automated responses like triggering localized customer offers based on the shopper's real-time position in the facility.

Cisco launched the DNA Spaces platform in October 2026.

Market Landscape

This launch marks a shift from legacy Cisco Connected Mobile Experiences toward a consolidated cloud-based model. It mirrors a broader industry trend of integrating network management software with real-time customer behavior analytics.

Retailers with existing Meraki or Aironet access points should evaluate if their current network architecture supports these analytics to avoid additional hardware costs. Focus on ensuring your guest Wi-Fi landing pages align with data collection disclosure requirements.

The takeaway

Operators can transform static wireless infrastructure into an active customer intelligence tool by enabling location-based analytics. Management should review internal privacy policies before activating these features to ensure compliance with data tracking regulations.