Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil and specialist in retail automation has announced it is bringing an upgraded version of Marty the Robot to more than 300 Stop & Shop stores in the U.S.
As part of the enhancements, the robot will now conduct product checks to help ensure greater on-shelf availability for customers by alerting store associates when items need re-stocking. The smarter version of Marty will detect misplaced items while continuing the usual task of spotting potential floor hazards and spills.
Retailers are increasingly looking for autonomous ways to improve omnichannel shopping experiences including real-time inventory tracking, allowing stores to speed up restocking and resolve product and price discrepancies more quickly. The latest update from Badger Technologies comes four years after the initial rollout of its multipurpose autonomous robots at Stop & Shop stores in January 2019.
“Marty has delivered tremendous value for us already in terms of creating a safer in-store environment, and we’re excited to announce these new automated shelf-scanning capabilities, which will deliver even more value for customers and associates,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop.
With Marty’s new ability to find and fix on-shelf product availability and to confirm pricing information, associates can spend even more time with shoppers,” he said.
In addition to new in-store duties, Marty is taking on a bigger role outside the store to support Stop & Shop’s “Feed it Forward” initiatives to make a positive impact in the community, the company said.
“Over the years, Stop & Shop has done a great job of communicating the robot’s purpose, and Marty has gained a loyal following among shoppers and community members of all ages. The addition of inventory, pricing, and trend data with the introduction of this upgraded Marty reinforces Stop & Shop’s continuing dedication to improving storewide efficiencies while creating long-lasting value for customers,” William “BJ” Santiago, CEO of Badger Technologies added.
