I really liked the split between robots handling packaged goods and people keeping the fresh, frozen, and unusual items. It feels much more credible than trying to automate the whole store at once. The per-pick pricing is also interesting because it forces the vendor to own the result, instead of selling the retailer a machine and leaving them to make it work.
I agree! While some may call this a compromise on automation, I see it as an efficient hybrid approach to automation. And that's what technology is supposed to do - deliver on the efficiency and productivity promise!
Ricardo, thank you! Another serving of great retail brain food. 280K positions, with constant turnover, and a very smart separation of tasks: robots for the center of the store, humans for fresh, fridg'd and frozen. For an growing consumer cohort that, I would expect, reflects the highest CLV and least annual churn. Bravo!
As often happens in tech, a hybrid human/machine approach delivered the best value! In this case, you have human hands picking the items customers are most sensitive about - who wants bad avocados! And you have robots most efficiently handling those shelf-stable items that humans spend the most amount of time finding and picking. It's a win-win. I expect more grocers to try this approach!
I really liked the split between robots handling packaged goods and people keeping the fresh, frozen, and unusual items. It feels much more credible than trying to automate the whole store at once. The per-pick pricing is also interesting because it forces the vendor to own the result, instead of selling the retailer a machine and leaving them to make it work.
I agree! While some may call this a compromise on automation, I see it as an efficient hybrid approach to automation. And that's what technology is supposed to do - deliver on the efficiency and productivity promise!
Ricardo, thank you! Another serving of great retail brain food. 280K positions, with constant turnover, and a very smart separation of tasks: robots for the center of the store, humans for fresh, fridg'd and frozen. For an growing consumer cohort that, I would expect, reflects the highest CLV and least annual churn. Bravo!
As often happens in tech, a hybrid human/machine approach delivered the best value! In this case, you have human hands picking the items customers are most sensitive about - who wants bad avocados! And you have robots most efficiently handling those shelf-stable items that humans spend the most amount of time finding and picking. It's a win-win. I expect more grocers to try this approach!