Schnucks Goes Live with Shelf-Scanning Robot
Schnuck Markets’ autonomous shelf-scanning robot, Tally, is rolling out at select Schnucks’ stores. Schnucks and Simbe Robotics kicked off a pilot in summer 2017, when Tally began capturing deeper, real-time insights into on-shelf operations at three Schnucks locations.
As a result of the initial pilot’s success, Schnucks is increasing the scope of the partnership to bring at least 15 Tally robots to key stores, giving the retailer a tech-forward competitive advantage.
To propel Schnucks’ physical stores into a new era of efficiency and improved customer experience, Simbe’s technology provides insightful shelf data and improves how products are organized and stocked on shelves. Tally provides on-shelf intelligence that enables Schnucks to better serve its customers by ensuring products are where they are intended to be, and where customers expect them to be. The data captured and analytic reports recapping the data provide groundbreaking perspective to not only the store, but to brands and delivery partners regarding shelf and inventory optimization.
“Tally has been instrumental in boosting the way our shelves are managed and how our stores function,” said Dave Steck, VP of IT, infrastructure and application development, Schnucks. “As a result of working with Simbe, we’ve experienced a phenomenon we call ‘The Tally Effect,’ an immediate improvement in in-store operations and increased teammates productivity.
Schnucks’ Tally Robot Can:
- Conduct autonomous product audits
- Provide timely alerts for out-of-stock, low stock, and misplaced items
- Ensure price tag updates are expedited to reflect price adjustments
- Deliver continuous in-store performance insights
- Optimize product location to streamline shopping flow
“Currently, teammates are spending several hours a week completing tasks like inventory scanning and price tag auditing. Since we implemented Tally, the robot now completes those mundane tasks, allowing teammates to focus on customer service. We have confidence that with Simbe, our stores will run more smoothly and customers will continue to have exceptional, and modern, shopping experiences.”
In its current deployment, Tally robots in Schnucks stores traverse the floors three times per day, scanning approximately 35,000 products per traversal. By increasing to at least 15 stores, in an average day the Tally robots will scan over 1.5 million products, giving Schnucks more accurate, frequent, and comprehensive insights into product flow and in-store operations.
Schnucks customers and teammates have the unique opportunity to shop and work alongside Tally with the reassurance that products are priced and placed correctly. The robot is fully autonomous, meaning it safely navigates around aisles and shoppers, and returns to its charging dock all on its own, without any human intervention.
“Schnucks is deeply committed to exceptional customer service and has taken a tech-forward approach to improving in-store operations, which ultimately delivers a better shopping experience,” said Brad Bogolea, CEO, Simbe. “Tally has provided Schnucks with a deeper understanding of inventory flow and shelf health, and the results exceeded expectations. We look forward to our continued partnership and bringing digital-grade insights to even more of Schnucks stores.”