Trax Rolls Out Shelf Monitoring Robots in China

Retail and consumer goods analytics firm Trax has rolled out its Retail Watch store intelligence solution in China, where it has developed a shelf monitoring robot using shelf-edge and ceiling cameras to provide retailers with 'eyes in the store'.

Headquartered in Singapore, Trax provides services powered by proprietary image recognition, machine learning and Internet of Things platforms, which are used to convert photos of retail shelves into shelf and store-level insights. Earlier this year the company acquired real-time in-store shelf monitoring solution Qopius.

In China, Retail Watch will include the new shelf monitoring robot, developed in partnership with local robotics company Ecovacs, which will provide real-time visibility of products to help retailers optimize in-store data collection and operations. Trax says the roll-out will mean store employees no longer have to carry out manual, repetitive tasks, as the system will automatically alert them to availability gaps, pricing errors and planogram non-compliance. The solution also provides data for supply chain replenishment, forecasting and picking for online orders.

James Tang (pictured), General Manager and President, Greater China, says the technology provides a third layer of insights to supplement inventory and sales data. He adds: 'Automated solutions are necessary for optimizing retailers' operational efficiency and driving consumer purchasing decisions, while also allowing store associates to focus on where they are needed most - with the shoppers'.

Web site: www.traxretail.com .