Sensor-Controlled Lighting in Retail: How LYS Software is Revolutionizing Store Lighting
Date: November 27, 2024
Modern retail environments face a dual challenge: creating the perfect lighting for customer experience while minimizing energy consumption and operating costs. Traditional lighting systems run at full capacity regardless of the store's actual needs, resulting in unnecessary energy waste and shorter lifespan for light sources. LYS software with sensor control offers an intelligent solution specifically designed for the retail sector, delivering documented energy savings of between 44% and 67%.
The Challenge with Traditional Store Lighting
Retail stores have traditionally used static lighting systems where lights are turned on at opening and off at closing. This one-size-fits-all approach does not account for varying daylight conditions, customer flow, or zone-specific needs within the store. The result is significant energy waste, especially during periods of low customer traffic or in zones with sufficient daylight.
Furthermore, constant operation at maximum capacity accelerates the degradation of light sources, leading to more frequent replacements, higher maintenance costs, and unpredictable failures that can negatively impact the customer experience. For retail chains with multiple locations, these challenges multiply, and centralized control and monitoring become practically impossible without advanced technology.
LYS Software: Targeted for the Retail Sector
LYS software is not a generic lighting solution adapted for retail – it was developed from the ground up with the unique requirements of retail environments in mind. The software integrates sensor control, intelligent automation, and central monitoring into one cohesive platform that gives retail chains full control over lighting across all locations.
Sensor Control as a Core Component
The sensor technology in LYS software encompasses multiple layers of intelligence. Motion sensors detect customer flow in different zones and dynamically adjust brightness based on activity levels. During periods without customer traffic, lighting is automatically reduced to a minimum level that maintains safety and basic visibility while eliminating unnecessary consumption.
Daylight sensors continuously measure natural light entering through windows and skylights. The system automatically compensates by reducing artificial lighting in zones with sufficient daylight, ensuring consistently optimal illumination without overconsumption. This is particularly effective in stores with large window areas or during summer months when daylight hours are longer.
Time-based control integrates with the store's opening hours and can be programmed to adjust lighting levels based on expected customer flow patterns. For example, lighting can automatically increase during rush hours and decrease during quiet periods, even while the store is open.
Documented Energy Savings: 44-67%
The most compelling advantage of LYS software is the measurable energy savings. Through implementations in retail stores, the system has consistently delivered energy reductions of between 44% and 67% compared to traditional lighting systems.
These savings are achieved through a combination of factors. First, sensor control eliminates all unnecessary lighting in empty zones or periods without customer traffic. Second, daylight integration optimizes the use of natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours. Third, intelligent dimming ensures that lighting never operates at higher capacity than necessary to maintain the desired lighting standard.
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Savings Area
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Typical Reduction
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Annual Savings (example: 50 stores)
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Energy consumption
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44-67%
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$90,000 - $135,000
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Maintenance costs
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30-50%
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$17,000 - $28,000
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Manual control labor hours
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70-90%
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$22,000 - $34,000
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Downtime and emergency repairs
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80-95%
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$11,000 - $17,000
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For a typical retail chain with 50 locations, this translates to annual savings of between $140,000 and $214,000, depending on store size and current energy consumption.
Extended Lifespan for Light Sources
Beyond direct energy savings, LYS software delivers an often-overlooked benefit: significantly extended lifespan for light sources. LED bulbs and fixtures have a nominal lifespan, but this is substantially reduced by constant operation at maximum capacity and frequent on/off cycles.
LYS software optimizes the operation of light sources by minimizing unnecessary stress. Intelligent dimming means lights rarely run at 100% capacity, reducing thermal stress and extending component lifespan. Gradual on/off functions eliminate sudden voltage spikes that can damage electronic components.
The result is an average extension of light source lifespan by 30-50%. This means fewer replacements, lower procurement costs for spare parts, and reduced labor time for maintenance. For retail chains with hundreds or thousands of light sources across locations, this represents significant savings.
Retail-Specific Optimization
What distinguishes LYS software from generic smart lighting solutions is the deep understanding of retail environments' specific needs. The software is not merely adapted for retail – it is designed from the ground up to solve the challenges that retail chains face daily.
Zone-Based Control
Retail stores typically consist of different zones with different lighting needs: entrance area, product displays, fitting rooms, checkout area, storage, and office. LYS software enables precise zone-based control, where each zone can have its own sensors, settings, and automation rules.
For example, the entrance area can have high lighting to attract customers, while the storage area runs with reduced lighting and only activates upon motion detection. Fitting rooms can have dedicated lighting that turns on automatically when in use and turns off after a period of inactivity. This granular control maximizes both energy efficiency and customer experience.
Integration with Store Operations
LYS software integrates seamlessly with the store's existing systems and operational routines. Opening hours are automatically synchronized, so lighting follows the store's schedule without manual intervention. Seasonal adjustments can be programmed in advance, so lighting automatically adapts to changes in daylight conditions throughout the year.
For stores with changing product layouts or campaigns, lighting settings can be quickly adjusted from the central platform. This provides flexibility to highlight specific product areas or create different atmospheres without physical reconfiguration of the lighting.
Central Monitoring Across Locations
For retail chains, centralized control is crucial. LYS software delivers a unified dashboard where facility managers can monitor and control lighting in all stores from one platform. Real-time data shows energy consumption, operational status, and any faults across the entire portfolio.
This eliminates the need for local staff to handle lighting control and ensures consistent implementation of energy-saving policies across all locations. When a light source approaches the end of its lifespan, the system automatically generates an order for replacement before failure occurs – preventing situations with defective lighting that could impact customer experience.
Automatic Ordering and Proactive Maintenance
One of the most innovative features of LYS software is the automatic ordering system. The software continuously monitors each individual light source's operating time and estimates remaining lifespan based on actual use. When a light source approaches the end of its expected lifespan, the system automatically generates a replacement order.
This proactive approach has several advantages. First, it eliminates emergency situations with defective lighting that require quick and often expensive emergency repairs. Second, procurement can be consolidated and optimized, reducing costs through volume discounts and efficient logistics. Third, maintenance can be scheduled during periods of low activity, minimizing disruptions to store operations.
For retail chains with hundreds of locations, this represents a transformation from reactive to proactive maintenance. Instead of waiting for failures and reacting, the system anticipates needs and ensures the right components are available at the right time.
ESG and Sustainability Reporting
In an era where sustainability is a central business priority, LYS software automatically delivers the data necessary for ESG reporting (Environmental, Social, Governance). The system precisely tracks energy consumption, CO₂ reduction, and resource optimization across all locations.
This data can be exported in standardized formats compatible with common reporting frameworks such as GRI, SASB, and TCFD. For retail chains with ambitious climate goals, this provides the tools to document progress and identify further opportunities for improvement.
Additionally, the extended lifespan of light sources contributes to reduction of electronic waste, supporting circular economy principles. Fewer replacements mean fewer discarded components and reduced environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle.
Return on Investment: 6-12 Months
Despite the advanced features and significant savings, LYS software has an impressively short payback period. Most retail customers experience full ROI within 6-12 months after implementation.
This rapid payback is due to the combination of reduced energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, extended light source lifespan, and elimination of labor hours for manual control. For a typical retail chain, the total savings over five years can exceed 400% of the original investment.
Furthermore, implementation of LYS software is non-invasive. The system can be integrated with existing LED lighting in most cases, eliminating the need for complete replacement of fixtures. This reduces both initial investment and installation time.
The Future of Retail Lighting
Sensor-controlled lighting with LYS software represents not merely an incremental improvement over traditional systems – it is a fundamental transformation of how retail stores handle lighting. By combining advanced sensor technology, intelligent automation, and central monitoring, the system delivers measurable results that directly impact the bottom line.
With documented energy savings of 44-67%, extended lifespan for light sources, and automated maintenance, LYS software gives retail chains the tools to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and ensure optimal customer experience. In a competitive retail sector where margins are under pressure, these savings can be the difference between profitability and loss.
For retail chains that have not yet implemented sensor-controlled lighting, the question is not whether they should do it, but when. With a payback period of less than one year and continued savings for many years forward, the business case is clear. LYS software offers a path to both economic and environmental sustainability in retail lighting.
About LYS Software
LYS (Light Your Store) is a Danish company specializing in intelligent lighting control for the retail sector. With over 30 years of experience in the lighting industry, LYS delivers targeted software solutions that combine sensor control, automatic ordering, and central monitoring to maximize energy efficiency and reduce operating costs for retail chains.
For more information about how LYS software can transform your store lighting, visit www.lys.dk or contact our sales team for a free demo and ROI calculation.