Imagine a large shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City: during peak hours, thousands of visitors flood in, but the investor has no clear insight into traffic by zone. This leads to difficult negotiations with tenants and wasted energy as air conditioning runs at full load in low-traffic areas. 

This is a common reality in smart buildings and shopping malls. Studies from 2024–2025 show that AI Counting (AI-based people counting) can reduce HVAC and lighting energy consumption by 14–25%, maintain 91% resident or customer satisfaction levels through flexible environments, and provide accurate traffic data to optimize customer demand while enabling more effective tenant negotiations. 

This article explores the rapidly growing AI Counting market, real-world needs from office buildings to shopping malls, and the superior value it delivers in cost savings, energy efficiency, and business performance. 

What is AI Counter and Why Is It Becoming a Global Trend Today? 

AI Counter (or AI people counting) is a solution that uses artificial intelligence to automatically count the number of people (or objects) from real-time camera footage. Powered by Deep Learning, it analyzes video feeds, accurately detects humans (with 95–99% accuracy), tracks traffic flow, dwell time, movement heat maps, and integrates easily with existing cameras to provide data for dashboards, reports, occupancy alerts, and automated HVAC/lighting control. 

The global people counting market reached USD 1.26–1.46 billion in 2024–2025 and is projected to grow to USD 2–2.65 billion by 2030 (CAGR 11.6–13.9%). The main reasons include: 

• Accurate, real-time data: Far superior to manual counting or outdated sensors, especially in crowded or varying lighting conditions. 

• Energy and cost savings: Reduces HVAC/lighting consumption by 14–25% through occupancy-based control, supporting sustainability goals. 

• Business optimization for malls: Tracks customer traffic, dwell time, and patterns to support tenant negotiations and increase revenue by 20–30%. 

• Easy deployment and reasonable cost: Leverages existing cameras, uses secure edge computing, and integrates with IoT/smart building systems. 

AI Counter doesn’t just count numbers; it turns data into a strategic advantage for smart buildings and shopping malls. 

Operational Value That AI Counter Brings to Smart Buildings 

AI Counter is not merely a people-counting tool; it is an intelligent data platform that optimizes the entire smart building operations process. Here are the key operational benefits it delivers to investors, property managers, and end-users: 

1. Significant Energy and Operational Cost Savings 

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and lighting account for 40–60% of a building’s total energy consumption. AI Counter provides real-time occupancy data to enable occupancy-based control: automatically adjusting system operation levels based on actual people count (e.g., turning off or lowering output in low-occupancy zones). 

Results show annual energy cost reductions of 14–25% (based on studies from Schneider Electric, ACEEE, and real smart building cases). For mid-sized office buildings or malls in Vietnam, this translates to savings of tens to hundreds of millions VND per year, while supporting ESG goals and green certifications. 

2. Improved Space and Resource Management Efficiency 

AI Counter tracks people flow by zone (multi-zone), movement heat maps, and dwell time, enabling property managers to: 

• Optimize space allocation (e.g., open additional meeting rooms when demand is high). 

• Adjust staffing for security, cleaning, and reception based on peak/low periods. 

• Control occupancy to ensure fire safety compliance and regulatory adherence (alerts when exceeding load thresholds). 

Outcome: Reduced resource waste and improved building utilization efficiency by 20–30%. 

3. Enhanced User Experience and Satisfaction 

Occupancy data enables dynamic environmental adjustments: temperature, humidity, and lighting tailored to real-time people count, reducing complaints about overheating, overcooling, or poor ventilation. 

Studies show buildings using AI Counter maintain 91% satisfaction rates among residents/employees thanks to more comfortable spaces, fewer complaints, and higher productivity. 

4. Strategic Data for Data-Driven Decision Making 

Real-time dashboards and detailed reports (daily/weekly/monthly) help management: 

• Forecast traffic trends. 

• Evaluate marketing campaign/event effectiveness. 

• Plan maintenance and system upgrades based on actual usage data. 

This shifts operations from reactive to proactive, data-driven management. 

5. Fast ROI and Easy Implementation 

By integrating with existing cameras, offering reasonable initial investment, and delivering energy savings plus operational optimization, most projects achieve payback within 6–18 months. SoftWorld also provides customization based on building scale to maximize value from day one. 

AI Counter from SoftWorld – A Differentiated Solution for Businesses 

In a crowded market of people counting solutions, AI Counter from SoftWorld stands out thanks to its focus on practicality, high accuracy, and flexible application tailored for Vietnamese businesses, especially smart buildings, shopping malls, manufacturing, and retail. 

We don’t just provide a counting tool; we deliver an intelligent system that is easy to deploy and generates clear operational value from the very first day, with standout features including: 

• Instant alerts: Automatic notifications when counts are below/above targets, enabling quick response, reduced safety risks, and optimized resource allocation. 

• Ultra-fast scanning & high accuracy: Processes hundreds of objects in seconds with 95–99.99% accuracy, far superior to manual counting and eliminating errors. 

• Complex detailed counting: Detects multiple shapes/sizes with no quantity limit, ideal for counting people, customer traffic, or complex products. 

• Real-time data & detailed reporting: Continuous updates, user-friendly dashboards for trends, heat maps, and integration with BMS/ERP systems. 

FAQ about AI Counter 

How does AI Counter help optimize operations between malls and tenants? 

AI Counting tracks footfall, dwell time, and movement patterns by zone. Investors gain accurate data to: 

• Negotiate fair rental rates (higher-traffic zones command higher value). 

• Evaluate tenant performance (linking footfall to revenue). 

• Support tenants in optimizing layouts/marketing, increasing tenant revenue by 20–30%, helping malls retain and attract better partners. 

Does AI Counter ensure data security and regulatory compliance? 

Yes. The system processes image data on-premises or via edge computing, does not store personal images, complies with GDPR and Vietnam’s data protection regulations. Data is used solely for occupancy/traffic analysis, with no facial recognition of individuals. 

Can AI Counter be expanded for applications beyond people counting? 

Yes, the solution is highly flexible: vehicle counting, product tracking (when combined with warehouse AI), or behavior analysis (movement heat maps). SoftWorld supports customization to meet specific needs of smart buildings or malls. 

The market is growing strongly, and businesses that adopt early will gain a significant competitive edge. Don’t let your building or mall continue wasting energy or miss opportunities to intelligently understand customer behavior. 

Start today! Contact SoftWorld for a free consultation, AI Counter demo, and customized solution tailored to your project scale. We’re ready to partner with you to turn data into real profit.