Burbank – Walmart recently expanded its test of new AI shelf-scanning technology to four stores in Southern California, including the superstore on Kelly Johnson Parkway in Valencia.
This cutting-edge technology handles tedious tasks that are repeatable and predictable – like scanning shelves for out-of-stocks – giving associates the data and time they need to better serve today’s customers.
The automated units, produced by California-based Bossa Nova Robotics, uses AI and machine learning to help identify where in-stock levels are low, prices are wrong or labels are missing.
The robot can scan dozens of aisles in under an hour. Because of that speed, it allows associates to identify in-stock levels multiple times per day, providing near real-time views of what areas of the store need the most attention and freeing up associates to focus on serving customers.
“Our associates see the opportunity for this technology to focus on tasks that are repeatable, predictable and manual – freeing up their time to focus on selling merchandise and serving customers, which they tell us have always been the most exciting parts of working in retail,” said Panthi Patel, Walmart store manager in Burbank. “Our approach is unique: we see technology as a tremendous opportunity to empower our people because we know how vital the human touch is to delivering for our customers.”
Store associates have become strong advocates for the technology, which empowers them to work smarter and increases their productivity. This combination of people and technology helps make the stores more convenient and easier to shop, helping make the products customers want available at the right time, creating a less stressful and more effective customer experience.
“Walmart understands that customer habits and shopping expectations are changing at an incredibly fast pace and to meet the rapidly changing demands of their customers, they are embracing technology to better allow their associates to serve their customers,” said Martin Hitch, Bossa Nova chief business officer. “We are excited to learn from associates and store managers as we work with Walmart to deploy our technology.”
Based on the results of the initial tests, Walmart has expanded the use of the technology to 50 locations in the U.S., including the ones in Southern California. This will allow the company to further test the tool in a variety of store formats. Future expansion of the technology will be determined by feedback from Walmart associates and customers.
In October 2017, Walmart announced it was investing around $11 billion in 2017 and 2018 in the U.S. in store growth, store remodels and other innovations such as Pickup Towers, Online Grocery Pickup, Scan & Go and more.
The following local Walmart Supercenters are now utilizing the new shelf-scanning technology:
* Santa Clarita: 27931 Kelly Johnson Pkwy;
* Palmdale: 40130 10th St. W;
* Lancaster: 1731 E Ave J;
* Burbank: 1301 N Victory Place.
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32 Comments
So now, on the long run will this create more jobs or less jobs? Specially for the young, the elder and for those with only a High School or less education?
Can we start Blaming Obama now? LOL
You Really are that stupid. Your word for the day, little boy ; “Market”. Two Syllables. Tomorrow we’ll learn “Innovation”…4 whole syllables!!
So what I am seeing from this article.
Walmart is smart and they understand that it is more cost effective to buy a robot that can do this job faster than it is to pay a human $15/hr. So they are running prototypes now.
Who would have ever thought that robots would replace minimum wage workers? ?
Walmart is generous, am Sure those AI Robots scanners/stackers will have 100% Heathcare
Oh no more immigrants taking jobs
immigrants arent taking jobs. they are applying for jobs that Lazy locals think they are too good for and getting hired. Alright with me.
I have never met anyone who has had their job taken from illegal immigrants
Not only is that a ridiculously dumb comment but totally unnecessary. And besides that do you know The odds of this technology coming from a foreign country?
Daniel Gutierrez I agree that was sarcasm
Chris Hosea sarcasm
Mariana Cee sarcasm
Daniel Gutierrez They can pick the onions in the fields in scv, oh yeah they don’t have onion fields in scv anymore.
Brenda Schaecher sorry couldnt tell.
KJ Slo who is “they”
Hopefully this will cure their out of stock problem.
I am stressed enough shopping. I don’t need to stand there and scan every item, bag it all, and then have something go wrong. I will continue to see a real cashier. Seniors sometimes have arthritis issues that can cause pain doing all of this.
Did you bother to read the headline or the article? Or did you just look at the picture and assume?
They are scanning stock on the shelf to make sure it is on the correct location and the shelf is stocked.
This has nothing to do with checkout. ?
It’s amazing that nobody seems to understand the difference between automation (what this story is about) and artificial intelligence (AI). This automated shelf-scanning & reporting has nothing to do with true AI (or the robot would realize it’s working at Walmart and quit).
And no price cuts, everybody is screwed.
here is a much better article on this topic: https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/27/16556864/walmart-introduces-shelf-scanning-robots
In short. If you want $15/hr we will get a robot to replace those simple tasks.
John Angelotti exactly Wonder what happens when the robot malfunctions hmmmm…
Michelle Contant Waxman they simple reprogram it to not make that mistake again.
But part of that is taken care of in the machine learning base. It learns how to improve itself automatically.
I’m not sure to what extent that function has yet, but other companies have been using machine learning for years and have had great successes with it.
I always go to the line that has a live person. I’m concerned that technology will replace people.
I agree 100%
Ricky Santiago
Last time I was at Walmart I HAD to use a scanner. I hate taking jobs from people and being forced to use a credit card to pay. This is for the birds. Walmart family makes millions and workers get screwed.
Bhavna Patel
Yup, won’t be shopping at that store.. Walmart.com
Good job at putting more people out of work!?idiots
Matthew King
The real problem no one wants to address is that the world is over populated, until we do something about that, future generations are going to face astronomical problems in every aspect of their lives.