Shop Rite rolls out inventory robots to more stores
An initial pilot of shelf-scanning robots at Shop Rite is showing promising results.
ShopRite, a banner of retailer-owned grocery co-op Wakefern Food Corp., began piloting Simbe Robotics autonomous shelf-scanning “Tally” robots in spring 2022. Tally robots autonomously roam store aisles up to three times per day, leveraging computer vision technology to scan products to ensure they are in-stock, in the correct location, and accurately priced on the sales floor.
After testing the Tally platform in more than 20 stores., Shop Rite found that test stores were able to leverage its real-time insights to reduce out-of-stock rates, which resulted in their maximizing inventory availability and exceeding industry standards.
The Tally platform does not require any infrastructure changes to the store environment and is designed to operate during normal store hours collaboratively with store teams, and safely alongside shoppers. The robot is equipped with sensors that enable it to strategically navigate quietly and autonomously across the store. Wakefern also hopes that Tally’s data-gathering technology will free up time for store associates to work more closely with customers.
“Tally has proven to be the ideal shelf-intelligence solution for our members as it’s been able to roll right into our technology ecosystem, sending real-time shelf condition data directly to retail associates’ handheld devices,” said Charles J. McWeeney, VP, technology, innovation & Strategy at Wakefern Food Corp. “With timely, consistent, and accurate product data from Tally, our in-store mobile application presents a prioritized aisle by aisle inventory worklist to the store associates, ensuring they invest their time in the most meaningful and valuable services for our customers.”
“With our business intelligence solution, Wakefern has real-time visibility into shelf health at a frequency and fidelity that cannot be found anywhere else on the market,” said Brad Bogolea, Co-Founder and CEO of Simbe. “This consistent access to deep, precise insights has empowered Wakefern and its members' store teams to further improve the exceptional shopping experience their customers expect by keeping shelves fully stocked. We look forward to continuing to enhance the experience for store teams and shoppers alike.”
Founded in 1946, Wakefern Food Corp. is the the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the U.S. and includes nearly 50 member families who independently own and operate hundreds of supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, and Fairway Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.