Wakefern Expands Use of Tally Robots

Leveraging AI and robotics, Wakefern Food Corp is expanding its partnership with Simbe Robotics, Inc., integrating an increased number of "Tally" robots into additional ShopRite locations after completing a successful pilot.  

Over the past several months, the pilot implemented robots in over 20 stores, helping to optimize inventory management and leveraging real-time insights to reduce out-of-stock rates, permitting associates to focus on more impactful, customer-facing work. The robots operated during traditional business hours and worked right alongside shoppers.

Tally, the world’s first and most advanced inventory robot, uses AI to autonomously scan shelves of products to identify out-of-stock, mispriced, or misplaced products. It also provides comprehensive data to help with efficient inventory replenishment and actionable insights to enhance overall store operations.

“Tally has proven to be the ideal shelf-intelligence solution for our members as it’s been able to roll right into our technology ecosystem, sending real-time shelf condition data directly to retail associates’ handheld devices,” said Charles J. McWeeney, vice president of technology, innovation & strategy at Wakefern Food Corp.

The robots can detect out-of-stock items with more than 99% accuracy, require a one-day setup, and autonomously roam stores multiple times daily.

Wakefern isn’t the only grocery retailer leveraging Tally robotics to improve store operations and inventory control. Tally is deployed in over a dozen retailers across North America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

After piloting them in 2017, Schnuck Markets incorporated Tally robots within half of their stores in 2020. The integration resulted in 14 times more out-of-stock detection than manual auditing, with a 20% reduction in out-of-stock items. 

Hy-Vee incorporated them for its operations in select MO, NE, and IA stores.  

Operating 204 stores throughout California and Northern Nevada, The Save Mart Companies launched their pilot program of Tally robots, testing them within select Save Mart, Lucky/Lucky California, and FoodMaxx locations in California in the Modesto and East Bay regions.