Walmart Canada ensures product availability with shelf cameras

Walmart Canada is troubleshooting potential problems with products on its shelves with an automated camera solution.

The Canadian subsidiary of discount giant Walmart is expanding a partnership with retail automation technology provider Focal Systems Inc. to deploy shelf cameras throughout stores to provide automated detection of out-of-stocks, low inventory, and planogram compliance. The retailer seeks to drive higher on-shelf availability and operational efficiency.

Upon continued key performance indicator (KPI) success with the implementation, Walmart Canada will continue deploying Focal shelf camera technology expanded to additional stores nationally in 2021. Expanding its use of shelf cameras is part of Walmart Canada’s recent $3.5 billion investment in technology for store transformation.

“With the advances Focal has made with their technology solution, we’re ready to expand the partnership and deploy shelf-cameras in more stores,” said Sam Wankowski, COO, Walmart Canada. “We’re always striving for more ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers. Focal is helping us use technology to improve our on-shelf customer availability, so our customers can find what they are looking for, each time they choose to shop in-store with us.”

 “We set out with a mission to automate and optimize brick-and-mortar retail. By working with the world class operators at Walmart, we’ve been able to refine our technology to deliver unparalleled insight into product availability and how their stores perform,” said Francois Chaubard, CEO, Focal Systems. “We are honored to partner with Walmart and appreciate the opportunity to expand our deployment in order to deliver meaningful financial results to their stores.”

Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide.