Store Intelligence adds Simbe Mobile app and Virtual Tour for retailers

Simbe Robotics Inc. today announced two new capabilities of its Store Intelligence systems. The South San Francisco-based company said they are among its largest software updates ever and are intended to extend the value of its Web platform, which is used by dozens of retailers across three continents.

The majority of retailers experience significant challenges in managing business functions such as pricing and promotional execution (96%), planogram compliance (93%) and out-of-stocks (92%), reported Coresight Research. Other studies have found that taking inventory is the worst task according to store associates, most of whom said they wish they had better tools. 

“We are thrilled to equip our valued retail partners with groundbreaking solutions that power a radical new approach to capturing and understanding store data,” said Brad Bogolea, CEO of Simbe. “The quantifiable outcomes that our global customers produce every day affirm that only Simbe delivers the advanced technology retailers need to quickly prioritize inventory tasks from most to least urgent, verify stock levels before the pre-dinner rush, implement seasonal promotions, remotely assess high-risk areas to enhance theft prevention, and more.”

The company said the latest enhancements — a mobile app and a Virtual Tour feature —  will bolster the value of Store Intelligence for retailers.

Simbe Mobile uses data from Tally

The first new product, Simbe Mobile, is a configurable mobile application that puts Simbe’s Store Intelligence platform in the palm of store teams’ hands. It offers prioritized inventory and pricing tasks, near-real-time data analytics, planogram compliance, and more, said the company.

Through the Tally autonomous item-scanning robot, Simbe collects terabytes of data using advanced computer vision in ways that stationary devices can’t, the company claimed.

In addition to capturing intelligence to give retailers visibility into their stores, Simbe has developed ways to make that data accessible and actionable. Store teams using the company’s platform can receive reports, dashboards, and recommendations through the Web and, now, a configurable Simbe Mobile app. It is available on iOS, Android, and Zebra devices, and Simbe said it offers:

• Simplified task management: Simbe Mobile can streamline retail operations by prioritizing daily inventory and pricing tasks in a way that’s easy to follow, asserted the company. This can improve workflows, productivity, and technology adoption, it said.
• Enhanced inventory monitoring and responsiveness: Simbe Mobile can also increase efficiency with key inventory dashboards and reports, as well as a product-scan feature to speed inventory checks. It said this leads to proactive management and improved customer service.
• Remote compliance assurance: Simbe Mobile can ensure high standards of store compliance and strategic product placement through capabilities like planogram execution and the new Simbe Virtual Tour.

“Simbe’s mobile app is easy to use and allows us to resolve issues efficiently,” said Phil Gazzillo, senior director of regional operations at BJ’s Wholesale Club.

“It provides quick access to data and helps us proactively restock items,” he added. “It’s a value-add for our team and helps us provide even better service for our members.” 

Simbe Virtual Tour gives visibility from anywhere 

The Simbe Virtual Tour feature “empowers retailers to view their stores from anywhere at an unmatched depth and frequency,” according to Simbe. With remote insights, retail teams can optimize store layouts and make strategic decisions more easily, saving significant resources while ensuring store operations and product presentation standards, it said.

The new Virtual Tour function is accessible through both Web and mobile applications. Simbe said it provides retailers with frequent access to high-definition, 360-degree views of their store interiors that can be navigated remotely and easily. The company touted capabilities including:

• Extensive virtual store navigation: Simbe Virtual Tour provides a virtual store view, potentially saving retailers time and travel costs. This not only supports advanced operational planning and troubleshooting, but it is also a tool for optimizing product merchandising and stocking strategies.
• Improved remote oversight: Simbe Virtual Tour nables frequent, autonomous interior scans, transforming expensive annual processes into cost-effective, continuous oversight, the company said. 
• Unmatched visual views: Through Tally, Simbe captures detailed snapshots and time-lapses of each aisle at multiple heights to provide diverse views of retail interiors and a near-real-time understanding of store and shelf conditions. 

Store Intelligence to improve worker and shopper experience

Simbe Robotics’ customers have said that its scalable systems have helped increase their productivity, sales, and margins. In a recent survey of nearly 200 store managers, respondents said the Tally robot makes their jobs easier (90%) while also helping them sell more and increase consumer loyalty by improving the shopper experience (85%).

“Retailers have historically relied on costly capture services to take one-time snapshots of stores on an annual basis,” said Greg Buzek, founder, president, and principal analyst at IHL Group. “At the same time, we know store teams across retail sectors yearn for more advanced, user-friendly tools that drive efficiency and effectiveness in day-to-day store operations. Because of solutions like Simbe’s that support both corporate and store-level objectives, top retailers gain unprecedented insight into store and inventory conditions.”

Founded in 2014, Simbe Robotics said Store Intelligence uses artificial intelligence and robotics to streamline inventory management and store operations while elevating store teams and shoppers’ experiences. The platform includes Tally, which identifies exact product locations, stock levels, and pricing and promotion information with computer vision.