Ahold Giant Foods to Roll out Robots

Note the planned use for operational process.  But also being in the store and interacting to some degree with customers?

NRF: Roving robots report for work at all Giant Foods’ stores  By Tom Ryan in Retailwire

At the NRF Big Show in New York on Monday, Nick Bertram, president at Giant Foods, revealed that the supermarket chain is rolling out “Marty,” a 6’3” robotic assistant, to all 172 of its stores.

Nearly 500 robots will be deployed out across Giant Foods and Stop & Shop, also owned by Ahold Delhaize, in what Steven Platt, research director, Retail Analytics Council, who also participated in the session, ranked as the largest robotics rollout at retail in the world.

Marty will be initially used to identify hazards, such as liquid, powder and bulk food item spills, and alert associates to do clean-ups. Planogram compliance and in-stock monitoring is expected next.

At the NRF session, Mr. Bertram said a surprise in the pilot of the robot was that customers weren’t intimated, but “actually loved” the robot. Including “googly eyes” added a “little bit more fun” to the robot’s appearance. He said, “[Marty] did freak some of them out, but especially children found that having a live robot in a supermarket is exciting.”  ....  '

Robot Restocking

Includes a good expert discussion, usually the best parts of these pieces.   Also an approach we did much experimenting with, starting with Blackberry devices.

Can robots keep shelves stocked at Schnucks?  in Retailwire,  by George Anderson

Schnuck Markets, the 100-store supermarket chain based in St. Louis, announced it will run a six-week pilot program at three locations to test robots that will move up and down store aisles to make sure shelves remain properly stocked. The robots will also scan shelves to make sure that each item is in its proper place, aligned with the correct shelf tag.

The robots, which will be deployed three times a day (morning, afternoon and night), will send real-time information to store associates, helping them keep shelves stocked for customers. Each unit, named Tally by the manufacturer, Simbe Robotics, stands 38 inches high and weighs about 30 pounds. The devices use sensors to navigate around the store. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the units are programmed to avoid busy aisles and stop moving if a customer approaches.

Dave Steck, vice president of IT – infrastructure at Schnucks, said the data the robots collect will also be shared with vendors to help them improve their supply levels to stores. The initial emphasis of the pilot is to see if the chain can improve its stock positions through automation. Later, the technology may be used to reduce pricing errors and address other issues.  .... " 

Cognitive Operational Systems, LLC

Brought to my attention for retail inventory applications. 

" ... Cognitive Operational Systems, LLC (COSY) is a spinout of UPenn's GRASP Laboratory. The company focuses on leveraging University research for enabling industry solutions in computer vision, perception, and artificial intelligence. COSY became one of the early occupants of Pennovation Works in the summer of 2015.

COSY technology enables robots to navigate retail store floors, managing inventory, ensuring planogram and promotional compliance.  COSY will also map stores including layout and architecture. And that's only the beginning...

COSY’s “beacon-free” technology provides indoor localization and turn-by-turn navigation in environments with no GPS — like indoors. This back-end technology can be used to enable augmented reality interfaces, audio-based navigation aids for the blind, and even mobile drones. ... " 

Also, their blog.

Targeting Physical Out of Stocks

Seen a number of related methods,  this PG article looks at methods that combine image recognition and robotic methods.    We also looked at a method that could use streams from security cameras to count shelf items to address planogram compliance and detect out of stocks.    I liked the idea of multi-tasking.    Further in Progressive Grocer. 

Planograms for Profits

Planograms are diagrams of where goods are placed in a physical retail store.   We did much work on how to implement them consistently and to comply with manufacturer - retailer agreements and produce real value.   Plus linking them to actual consumer shopping behavior.   Retailwire discusses their application.

Wal-Mart Optimizing On-Shelf Availability

Another example, in Progressive Grocer, of how Wal-Mart is active in analytical methods.  " ... A new service from Plano, Texas-based sales and marketing services company Crossmark, is helping manufacturers to better address the challenge of a product’s on-shelf availability at Walmart stores. Called OSA Now, and developed by Plano, Texas-based Crossmark, the solution uses sophisticated algorithms -- customized for each supplier -- to identify store/item combinations that have a high likelihood of having an OSA problem. Typical issues include out-of-stocks, incorrect on-hand inventory, or products that are not on the planogram.... " 

Sensors at the End of the Supply Chain: StoreFlix

I have had the pleasure to meet again with Phil Storage, CEO of StoreFlix and  hear the advancements in  his simple but high leverage, mobile-based technology.   They have now implemented this with a number of distributors.  He writes:

" .. StoreFlix has a real-time world-wide patent pending mobile technology that allows CPG manufacturers, distributors and retailers to instantly see, share and analyze in-store conditions around the world to improve retail execution and compliance.  Field users "tag" and capture images and videos on smartphones/tablets in stores based on instructions mandated by management. These images are instantly uploaded over the air to a secure client website so business managers can visually see, for example, promotional or planogram compliance, new product cut-ins, confirm pricing, point of sale signage, backroom inventories, code dates etc.  Content captured in the field is immediately shared with teams using the StoreFlix Boardroom (like the Facebook Wall) and provides real-time analytics to track and visually verify retail initiatives ... " 

The possibilities for more precise retail analytics are considerable.

Watch a short two minute video demonstrating the technology.
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