Country Supplier, a farm and ranch retailer with stores across Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington, is to deploy store intelligence technology from Simbe across additional locations under the C-A-L Ranch and Coastal Farm & Ranch brands.

This marks an expansion into farm supply for California-based Simbe, following a successful proof of value.

Farm supply stores are vital to local communities, providing products that support daily operations for farms and local businesses. To meet seasonal demand, store shelves need to be well-stocked with the right products, at the right time, and at price points that customers expect. However, inventory management for farm suppliers can be difficult due to store size and product volume. It often takes two weeks to conduct manual scans of stores carrying more than 100,000 SKUs.

Tally (www.simberobotics.com/platform/tally), an autonomous, item-scanning robot that powers Simbe’s store intelligence platform, uses AI and computer vision to scan the store multiple times a day and read tags on various fixture types, including shelves, hooks, bins and top stock. Tally captures and processes images of shelf conditions in near real time, translating inventory data into actionable insights available on the Simbe platform and mobile app.

C-A-L Ranch (www.calranch.com) and Coastal Farm & Ranch (www.coastalcountry.com/coastal-farm-and-ranch) stores participating in the proof of value have already seen a 25% improvement in on-shelf availability and a 90% improvement in price accuracy.

Simbe’s offering of adaptable farm supply intelligence empowers teams to automate manual, labour-intensive inventory tasks and focus on high-value activities that enhance both the associate and shopper experience.

Many farm supply stores also operate within co-ops, with locations dispersed across rural areas and multiple states. With Simbe Virtual Tour (www.simberobotics.com/solutions/remote-compliance), retail executives can view and walk stores remotely, reducing travel while optimising layouts, ensuring compliance, and facilitating faster decision-making across locations. For retailers operating in a fast-paced, seasonal market, Simbe delivers in-store visibility to anticipate and meet evolving customer demands.

“Tally is redefining the way we run our business while working within our operational boundaries,” said Mandi Dyer, chief operating officer at Country Supplier. “The Simbe team’s dedication to understanding all aspects of our business needs and goals was instrumental in Tally’s successful implementation.”

Over the next few months, Country Supplier will continue integrating Tally into all stores. Learn more about Simbe’s farm supply offering in the video case study at www.simberobotics.com/insights/how-country-supplier-keeps-shelves-stocked-and-prices-accurate.

“Our enterprising retail partners across a growing number of verticals are ushering in a new era of retail technology and automation,” said Brad Bogolea, CEO of Simbe (www.simberobotics.com). “2024 has been another monumental year of growth for Simbe, as innovative industry leaders increasingly recognise the real, wide-reaching impact that AI and automation have on every layer of their operations. With Simbe’s in-store intelligence, our partners are thriving in a competitive retail landscape while elevating the in-store experience for all involved.”