Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are helping Utah-based family-owned grocery chain Harmons improve operations and boost the customer experience across 17 of its retail locations. The 93-year-old independent grocer is using a fleet of shelf-scanning AMRs from Simbe Robotics to optimize in-store inventory and ensure a “consistently exceptional customer experience,” according to leaders at both companies.Today, Simbe’s “Tally” AMRs traverse Harmons’ aisles, scanning shelves to determine product availability—and bringing real-time shelf intelligence and automation in-store.PILOTING PROGRESSHarmons turned to Simbe and its Tally AMRs to alleviate the labor-intensive and error-prone task of manually verifying inventory in its stores—a task that typically took associates up to 30 hours per week, according to company leaders. Tally captures real-time shelf-level data on product availability, pricing, and placement, allowing Harmons to achieve cleaner data and minimize out-of-stock inventory. Ultimately, this frees up store associates to focus on what matters most: serving customers and creating a better in-store experience.Tally’s slim design and advanced sensing suite allow it to easily traverse even the most congested store aisles. The AMR is lightweight, runs at about a third of a human’s walking speed, and features 40 sensors for movement and navigation. A low center of gravity makes the AMR tip-proof, and its motor disengages for safety, if necessary.Harmons and Simbe began with a five-store pilot program, with Tally traveling store aisles and scanning shelves multiple times per day to automate the process and relieve store associates of the repetitive and time-consuming task.“It’s not uncommon for associates to have been part…
