Supermarkets continue to face unique challenges in maintaining the quality and availability of fresh products, which are increasingly pivotal for both customer satisfaction and store profitability. As demands escalate for consistent freshness and reduced food waste, technology-driven solutions are attracting more attention from retailers. The latest offering by Simbe Robotics brings renewed focus on automating oversight in these vital grocery sections, suggesting a significant change in how grocers may approach perimeter management in coming years.
Retail automation and inventory management have seen considerable development, yet most previous announcements by Simbe Robotics and its peers centered on general product tracking or shelf views for packaged goods. Earlier reports described Tally robots primarily as automated floor scanners, identifying missing items or incorrect labels, largely outside the highly perishable categories. The current expansion represents a shift, as fresh departments—historically underserved by automation—are now being directly addressed with new tools and data-driven oversight methods.
How Is Simbe Expanding Into Fresh Departments?
Simbe Robotics has introduced additional capabilities to its Store Intelligence platform, now specifically designed to monitor and analyze grocery store fresh departments such as produce, bakery, deli, and prepared foods. Tally, the autonomous mobile robot, is now equipped with vision and AI updates to scan shelves for stock, pricing, and promotion information, while the Tally Spot uses fixed sensors to monitor fast-turning items. The company asserts that this multimodal setup helps reduce shrink, maximize product availability, and support more consistent shopper experiences.
“From produce to baked goods, fresh is the performance center of the grocery store because of its importance to shoppers,”
said Brad Bogolea, Simbe’s Co-founder and CEO.
What Tools Support This New Approach?
In addition to Tally, new supporting technologies include panoramic Virtual Tour features for central teams to remotely review freshness or merchandising, and time-lapse Aisle Views to help with planning and rotation across store locations. Simbe has also incorporated RFID with Tally Spot for tracking expiration in real-time, enhancing the rotation of perishable inventory. These improvements enable real-time visibility even in complex zones previously considered difficult to monitor efficiently.
“Through automation, the retailers leading in this space are redefining how their teams execute, how they serve shoppers, and how they grow. We’re proud to support that shift with the visibility they need to turn fresh into a true competitive advantage,”
Bogolea said.
What Results Can Retailers Expect from the Update?
The company states the Store Intelligence platform offers actionable data that helps retailers maximize production during peak periods, cut food waste, and bolster labor efficiency by replacing manual audits. Simbe cites potential food-waste reductions of up to 88% and promises consistency in execution across all stores. Their solution addresses both financial and environmental goals. Industry voices, including Bennett Morgan of SpartanNash, highlight the significance of this technology in preventing sales loss and maintaining customer trust by delivering timely detection and response to stock issues.
The fresh department’s elevated role in grocery operations and its susceptibility to shrink had previously posed obstacles for automation efforts. Simbe’s launch of expanded capabilities for produce and perimeter management contrasts with older approaches where only dry goods or non-perishables received tech-driven oversight. As more grocery leaders consider automation essential to reducing inefficiencies and meeting consumer standards for freshness, the shift toward comprehensive, real-time tracking marks a clear progression in store management strategy. Store operators leveraging these data-rich tools may enjoy clearer inventory insights, better control of food waste, and improved labor allocation. For businesses aiming to stay competitive in the grocery market, a deep understanding of—and ability to automate—fresh department oversight could prove increasingly valuable in the coming years.
