Swiss firm Scandit has launched Shelfview, an intelligent and autonomous shelf management system for retailers.

ShelfView is a smart data capture and analytics system that enables real-time shelf visibility and empowers more intelligent and efficient store operations. Based on computer vision technology, it helps retailers capture and process in-store data, such as pricing and inventory locations, to take action based on intelligence and accurate real-time information.

Suitable for grocers and stores with high-SKU volume, ShelfView addresses some fundamental problems retailers face to tackle thin margins and drive cost optimisation. Introducing in-store labour automation and robotics can help retailers add another two to four per cent to their profitability, according to McKinsey.

With rising labour costs, worker shortage and pressure to deliver omnichannel fulfilment, ShelfView automates routine tasks that are currently conducted manually and prone to error to increase store associate efficiency and reduce employee turnover.

ShelfView’s initial capabilities will help retailers optimise three main workflows:

• Accurate price and promotion label execution: ShelfView analyses labels and signage in real time, either via mobile devices or autonomous robots, to inform store associates of required adjustments to optimise sales and increase price integrity.
• Frictionless in-store order picking: Shelfview, with autonomous robots, provides accurate product locations to store associates resulting in lower substitution rates, decreased picking delays and delivering an improved customer experience. Any one second saved in order picking can translate in up to $10m of annual cost savings.
• Faster replenishment with precise in-store product localisation: Via autonomous data capture, ShelfView can scan shelf and pallet labels to analyse the accurate location of pallets for replenishment. This can save stores up to 2.5 hours a day resulting in store associates being leveraged for more critical tasks.

The system gathers in-store intelligence to improve retail execution by leveraging existing infrastructure without the need for significant additional investment. It can be scaled chain-wide, scanning millions of images per day, which can be processed on device or in the cloud to deliver actionable insights.

ShelfView works seamlessly with Brain Corp’s BrainOS AI platform to deliver a scalable, accessible and cost-efficient way to automate the collection of data via the use of robots. Using a multi-purpose design, Inventory Scan is an accessory that can be fitted to autonomous floor scrubbers to scan key details autonomously on in-store inventory.

Additionally, ShelfView can be applied to mobile devices already in use by store associates.

Retailers can ensure accurate pricing and promotion, accelerate the movement of inventory, and reduce the low efficiency of in-store order fulfilment that erodes profit margins. It helps shop assistants quickly locate products or verify pricing and promotions.

The hybrid approach of mobile devices and autonomous floor scrubbers enables retailers to expand the workforce by removing repetitive tasks from the employees and empowering them to focus on value adding tasks, such as customer engagement. Reducing tedious tasks aids retailers in retaining employees to reduce costly churn.

It delivers precise in-store inventory data to drive efficient shelf management and order fulfilment workflows. Store associates can correct store level issues before they affect sales.

Accurately placed, priced and promoted inventory can be essential to delivering a consistent in-store and online customer experience. Frequent and exact shelf management can be vital to ensure a frictionless customer journey, particularly in today’s omnichannel world.

“All retailers understand that improving the in-store shopper experience is more important than ever, but doing so economically remains critical,” said Christian Floerkemeier, CTO of Scandit. “Automating and simplifying routine tasks empowers retailers to maximise revenues while increasing the efficiency, value and engagement of their store associates. By leveraging our smart data capture capabilities, ShelfView can increase on-shelf product availability, improve the rate of online orders fulfilled and lift sales through accurate pricing and promotion labelling to achieve this.”

ShelfView uses augmented reality (AR), object recognition, object detection, optical character recognition and other computer vision technology to process images acquired through both mobile devices and autonomous data capture.