Southeastern Grocers tests ‘one-of-a-kind’ robot subscription service
Southeastern Grocers is testing a fully managed, subscription-service model for portable shelf-scanning robots that eliminates retailers from having to operate or maintain a single robot.
The parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket is one of several retailers in a pilot program for Shelf Optix, described as a “first-of-its-kind” subscription service that delivers accurate “ground truth” shelf insights to retailers and brands, without the cost, labor or complexity of owning robots.
The service combines Brain Corp.’s shelf-scanning robots with merchandise service provider Driveline's retail service workforce of 15,000-plus field reps. The reps can collect and address shelf insights to improve on-shelf availability, ordering, planograms and pricing compliance.
In the initial phase, the pilots are focused on helping retailers gain a better understanding of their on-shelf availability, direct store distribution execution and compliance performance. Out-of-stocks, phantom inventory, zero-sale items, and compliance issues cost the retail industry an estimated $1.7 trillion annually and research shows that 70% of consumers will switch retailers or brands when faced with an out-of-stock item, according to Brain Corp.
"You can't fix what you can't see, and in retail, that visibility is the foundation for delivering on our promise to the customer," said Anthony Hucker, chairman and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. "Our pilot with ShelfOptix has already demonstrated how its managed service, powered by robots, can give us a clear, real-time view of what's on our shelves, so we can address issues faster and ensure our customers find what they need, every time they shop. It's about building trust through consistency and delivering the seamless experience our communities deserve."
By collecting and delivering ground truth shelf visibility with greater accuracy, flexibility and scalability, ShelfOptix is designed to enable retailers and brands to improve in-store execution and the effectiveness of their strategies. The AI-powered robots feature a foldable and portable design for easy transport between stores.
"With robot-powered shelf intelligence delivered through the simplicity of a fully managed service, ShelfOptix is making accurate shelf insights more accessible at scale," said David Pinn, CEO of Brain Corp. "This gives retailers and brands the visibility they need to close the reality gap between what systems show and what's truly on the shelf, without having to operate or maintain a single robot. It's a unique service that's precise, packed with insights, and effortless to scale."
