Simbe Robotics Deployed at Schnucks Grocery Stores

Schnucks to Deploy Simbe Robotics Technology Chain-Wide

Grocery retailer Schnucks, headquartered in St. Louis, has announced a comprehensive deployment of robotics technology developed by Simbe Robotics. This rollout will encompass all 111 of the company’s store locations throughout the United States.

This decision arrives amidst a period of heightened interest in automation, spurred by the ongoing global pandemic. Essential businesses, such as grocery stores, have been particularly focused on implementing technologies to improve efficiency and maintain operations.

Improving Inventory Management with Robotics

Simbe Robotics’ mobile robots specialize in inventory scanning. They provide a continuously updated assessment of product availability on store shelves and identify items requiring replenishment. Traditionally, inventory management has been a significant challenge for retailers, often necessitating extensive shutdowns or overnight efforts.

The implementation of this technology follows a four-year pilot program with Schnucks. The partnership has expanded incrementally over time, demonstrating positive results.

Tally Robot Capabilities and Benefits

Simbe’s Tally robot is reported to reduce instances of out-of-stock items by 20-30%. Furthermore, it is capable of detecting missing inventory at a rate 14 times greater than conventional manual scanning methods.

Real-time data is crucial for informed decision-making. According to Schnucks VP Dave Steck, the full deployment of Tally will allow the company to fully integrate these insights into their supply chain.

“Tally has become an integral component of our stores, streamlining operations and ultimately creating a better store experience for our customers and teammates,” Steck stated in a company release.

Competition in the Inventory Automation Space

Several companies are actively developing automated inventory scanning solutions. These include Brain Corp and Bossa Nova. However, Bossa Nova experienced a significant setback when Walmart terminated a substantial contract in late 2020.

The demand for efficient inventory solutions continues to grow within the retail sector.