Vallarta Supermarkets Test Badger Technologies Data-Gathering, Autonomous Robots to Improve Operational Efficiencies and Shopping Experiences
June 08 2022 - 8:45AM
Business Wire
Cloud-based robotics solution produces analytics and reports
to improve floor and shelf conditions
Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil and leader in
retail automation, has deployed a pilot program with Vallarta
Supermarkets, a chain of 53 full-service markets throughout
California, to reinforce operational and customer-service
excellence. Badger Technologies® multipurpose autonomous robots
support the retailer by identifying hazards at five Vallarta
Supermarkets in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino
counties. Vallarta also is testing the robot’s inventory management
capabilities at a sixth location aimed at improving on-shelf
product availability.
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Vallarta Supermarkets is testing Badger
Technologies multipurpose autonomous robot, named Pepe, to help
keep floors clean and shelves fully stocked with correctly priced
and placed products (Photo: Business Wire)
“Providing our customers with a clean, safe environment is
critical to our customers’ experience,” said Steve Netherton, CIO
and VP of Continuous Improvement at Vallarta Supermarkets. “When we
look at where to invest in innovative technologies, improving store
operations is always a high priority. The Badger Technologies
robots are helping us set new standards in store safety and
cleanliness while ensuring a superlative shopping experience.”
Founded in 1985, Sylmar, Calif.-based Vallarta Supermarkets is
recognized as one of the largest Latino supermarket chains in the
state. The company also is known for its highly trained staff eager
to assist customers in selecting fresh produce, quality meats and
bakery items, along with traditional and specialty food items from
Mexico, as well as Central and South America.
Prioritizing Store Safety and Cleanliness
Vallarta’s initial proof-of-concept (POC) featured a robot
equipped with Badger® Retail InSpect to complement existing manual
floor inspections with automatic hazard detection. After the POC
exceeded expectations, Vallarta implemented a five-store pilot to
support them in identifying hazards, such as spills of liquids,
powders or bulk-item foods, while potentially mitigating risks of
slip-and-fall accidents.
Hazard notifications are delivered by the robot to the store’s
public-address system and mobile pulse alerts. Images are collected
and stored for a period, for archival purposes. “The robot gives us
another pair of eyes to be more proactive in pinpointing spills and
debris,” said Suzanne Wong, Director of Operational Excellence at
Vallarta Supermarkets. “The result is heightened awareness among
our staff and customers that we place a big priority on store
safety and cleanliness. Other benefits include improvements in
customer service, labor efficiency and data for risk
management.”
Data-Driven Business Outcomes
Vallarta Supermarkets has further initiated a POC at a sixth
store to test a robot equipped with Badger® Retail InSight for
automated detection of out-of-stock product inventory. Cloud-based
analytics and reporting software generate a list of absent,
misplaced and/or mispriced products for issue remediation.
Dashboard data provides insights into customer buying trends along
with the performance of product displays and advertising
promotions. This automated process also assists Vallarta’s pricing
departments with collaborating and prioritizing product
restocking.
“The opportunities to offload tedious but important floor
inspections while gathering real-time data on product inventory
makes a huge difference for retailers, especially as they grapple
with continued labor shortages,” said William “BJ” Santiago, CEO of
Badger Technologies. “Our multipurpose autonomous robots offer
much-needed relief by amplifying and extending staff operations
while producing the data needed to improve customer satisfaction,
storewide operations and retail revenues.”
Nearly 600 Badger Technologies autonomous robots have been
deployed throughout the U.S. and Australia. These multipurpose
robots travel hundreds of thousands of miles each year to support
keeping shelves stocked, products priced correctly and floors
clean. As part of Jabil, Badger Technologies has access to
leading-edge retail technologies, innovative cloud software and
services, as well as world-class manufacturing solutions.
About Badger Technologies
Badger Technologies is a product division of Jabil (NYSE: JBL),
a manufacturing solutions provider that delivers comprehensive
design, manufacturing, supply chain and product management
services. Badger Technologies’ retail automation solutions feature
autonomous robots that capture and share valuable data designed to
improve operations and financial performance. Retail robots
automate hazard detection and expedite issues resolution while also
addressing a host of inventory and data disconnects to improve
profitability and shopping experiences. Badger Technologies also
has developed an autonomous ultraviolet disinfecting robot designed
to combat high-risk pathogens and an autonomous robot for the
security guard industry.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220608005225/en/
Michael Kovacs Senior Director, Marketing, Jabil 1.408.427.1191
michael_kovacs@jabil.com
Jabil (NYSE:JBL)
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