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Save Mart kicks off pilot of shelf-scanning robots

Simbe Robotics’ Tally to monitor inventory across multiple store banners

Russell Redman

April 16, 2021

3 Min Read
Save_Mart-Tally_robot.jpg
Simbe's Tally robot is being deployed at seven Save Mart Cos. stores in California under the Save Mart, Lucky California and FoodMaxx banners.Simbe Robotics

The Save Mart Companies plans to test Simbe Robotics’ Tally shelf-scanning robot at seven California stores to help reduce out-of-stocks and ensure products are where they should be in the aisle.

Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart said Friday that it will deploy Tally at three Save Mart stores in the Modesto area, two Lucky California stores in Dublin and San Ramon, and two FoodMaxx stores in Modesto and Tracy. 

Described as an autonomous inventory robot, Tally will roam the aisles at the Save Mart Companies’ stores to provide the retailer with an audit of store shelves, which includes checking products’ in-stock status and ensuring they’re in the correct location on the sales floor. The robot can scan up to 30,000 products daily, South San Francisco-based Simbe said, adding that the real-time data and inventory insights collected can cut out-of-stocks as much as 30% and free up store associates to focus more on customer service, in turn improving the shopper experience.

“Deepening our commitment to innovation with this pilot program is a reflection of The Save Mart Companies’ promise to our customers to ensure the best in-store experiences,” Hal Levitt, senior vice president of retail operations at The Save Mart Companies, said in a statement. “We’re pleased to have a strong technology partner in Simbe to support us in testing a new, effective inventory management solution in our stores and allowing us to provide better product availability.”

Related:Save Mart launches robotic on-demand grocery delivery

Simbe noted that Tally enables faster, more frequent and more comprehensive inventory audits than manual processes with a high level of accuracy. In addition, no infrastructure changes to the store environment are needed. Tally uses sensors to safely navigate around aisles, shoppers and employees, and the robot returns to its charging dock on its own.

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Roaming the store's aisles autonomously, Tally robot can scan up to 30,000 products daily.

After an evaluation of Tally’s performance, Save Mart may adopt the robot’s cloud-powered software platform and APIs to gain deeper information on inventory insights, which could bolster stores’ performance by improving in-stocks, raising customer satisfaction, and boosting brick-and-mortar and online sales, the companies said.

“The pandemic has further illuminated the critical need for strong on-shelf inventory data, and no retail solution provides this data with greater accuracy and fidelity than Tally,” according to Brad Bogolea, CEO and co-founder of Simbe Robotics. “Retailers are facing an ever-evolving landscape, and Tally provides a cost-effective solution that enables them to stay ahead of the curve, with improved operations and efficiency. Through our partnership, The Save Mart Companies will build a more resilient supply chain and ensure the best possible experience for customers and store teams across all three of the company’s banners.”

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Other supermarket chains that have deployed Tally include St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets and Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, as well as French grocery retail giant Carrefour.

Save Mart’s Tally deployment marks its second robotics pilot announced within the past year. Last September, the grocer launched an on-demand grocery delivery service to its customers at the flagship Save Mart store in Modesto using autonomous robots from Starship Technologies.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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