In today's rapidly changing and disruptive world, retail companies face constant pressure to enhance efficiency and productivity to deliver exceptional customer experiences to attract and retain customers. To achieve this, retailers rely on operational excellence, precise data analytics, and a well-trained customer-facing team. According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2023, the retail industry is particularly susceptible to negative impacts when it comes to recruiting and retaining existing staff members. One of the reasons is the increased difficulty in filling positions that require physical labor. As a result, the industry is experiencing a growing challenge in finding and retaining qualified personnel.

“In the United States, businesses in Retail and Wholesale of Consumer Goods reported close to 70% of job openings remaining unfilled, with close to 55% of roles unfilled in manufacturing and 45% in leisure and hospitality. Businesses also reported difficulties in retaining workers. According to a global survey conducted in late 2022 across 44 countries, one in five employees reported they intend to switch employers in the coming year.”

Automating processes can help retailers overcome these challenges by optimizing operations, reducing costs, and improving the customer experience. From self-checkout machines to automated warehouses, retailers are rapidly shifting to automation. With advancements in technology, such as AI and machine learning, retailers are now able to analyze vast amounts of data to optimize inventory management, enhance supply chain efficiency, and personalize marketing efforts. As the retail industry continues to evolve and expand, there is a growing demand for accurate data analytics to optimize inventory management processes. This is particularly evident with the rise of BOPUS (Buy Online, Pick Up in Store) and online shopping, which require precise inventory tracking and management. For these reasons, inventory scanning robots are quickly becoming the solution retailers are looking to for help in optimizing their inventory management processes.

“Retailers are spending a lot of money to know what's coming into their stores through their inventory systems. They know quite a bit about what they're selling and that is leaving their stores. But in their stores on a daily basis, they don't have a very good model of what's actually happening on their shelves,” said Jarad Cannon, Brain Corp CTO in a recent interview with CNBC

Following the successful deployment of inventory scanning tower on floor scrubbers at all national Sam's Club stores last year, it has become clear that automated inventory management significantly enhances the use of labor, freeing up associates to focus on tasks that directly impact the customer experience. The use of inventory robots is a trend that will to continue to grow in the coming years as retailers look for ways to automate their processes and reduce costs with solutions that provide efficiency and accuracy.