Starting yesterday, Spar Austria became the first grocery retailer in Austria to test Simbe Robotics’ autonomous robot. The Tally robot will roll through the Eurospar store in Vienna and the Interspar store in Eisenstadt over the next five months. The use of this technology is intended to relieve employees of routine tasks and increase product availability on the shelves.
The robot will scan the shelves in the store up to three times a day and check whether sufficient stock is available. The approximately two-metre-high device precisely detects gaps on the shelves, summarises the data collected and sends it to employees by email in the form of a detailed inventory report. With the help of Simbe Robotics’ technology, gap scans will be carried out automatically in the two test stores. This will allow employees to focus more on customer service.
“We are constantly reviewing future-oriented technological solutions that will further reduce the workload of our employees,” said Hans K. Reisch, CEO of Spar Austria, in a press release on the subject: “Automated inventory control and integrated reporting ensure better control of product availability on the shelves of our stores, and our employees have more time to provide personal advice to customers – a win-win situation for everyone.”
Inventory robot takes pictures of shelves
During the first four weeks of the trial, Simbe Robotics’ technology will be introduced to the stores. During this period, adjustments will be made to the device and the inspection route in the store will be determined. The data collected will be evaluated from mid-August and transmitted to the employees.
During the test phase, the robots will check the entire food area in both stores. It is equipped with cameras that only take pictures of shelves. The technology uses the images to recognise product availability and changes in product placement. This allows Tally to adjust its route in the store accordingly. If a person is visible in the images, they are automatically deleted.
Tally does not affect ongoing operations
The Simbe Robotics robot cannot speak or interact with customers. It automatically avoids people and immovable objects. The technology will not be active during busy periods at Spar Austria.
“The Tally robot trial is an example of how smart automation can support employees in their work in the future while also improving data quality in the market,” says Hans K. Reisch: “Approaches like this are an important step towards further developing the food retail sector from a technological perspective.”
