CANADA- Walmart Canada shops across the nation are getting an automated AI to assist to keep shelves stocked and offer the best possible customer and associate experience.

The computer vision AI system from Focal Systems can be used whether consumers are shopping in-store or online.

The system use cameras to automate out-of-stock detection and is expanding to all retailers after a 70-store pilot.

When an item, like cereal, is out of stock, it means that when a consumer (or an employee picking up online grocery purchases) looks for it, it isn’t on the shelf.

Using inventory systems automatically identifies in-store concerns about stock levels (out-of-stock or low-stock).

This instructs store staff to restock in high-traffic areas including the grocery, pet, health & beauty, frozen, dairy, and other departments.

Megan Osborne, Store Manager at the Walmart Heartland Supercentre noted that the technology is already getting glowing reviews from associates who use it every day.

Walmart has so far changed the game for both employees and customers as one of the first retailers in Canada to implement an AI solution for on-shelf availability.

“With this bold step, Walmart is driving this industry forward in AI-adoption and retail automation, challenging the status-quo on availability, customer experience, and employee satisfaction,” shares Francois Chaubard, CEO, of Focal Systems.

“Walmart is raising the bar, and we are inspired to help in any way we can. Focal is thrilled to be a key part of Walmart’s store digitization efforts nationwide!”

Walmart, in its quest to transform its business for its customers, rolled out State-of-the-art technology inside its store in Scarborough in June 2022.

Recently, Walmart has been exploiting its current footprint and unlocking store capabilities to serve consumers more extensively.

The retail giant is putting a priority on speed, accuracy, and service as part of its US$3.5 billion investment in infrastructure and customer experience.

For example, in Vaughan, space in stores across the nation has been reinvented to better serve consumers through online grocery pickup and delivery.

The store’s backroom serves to lessen salesfloor congestion and enhance pickup and delivery timeslot availability for customers.

Walmart, in its quest to transform its business for its customers, rolled out State-of-the-art technology inside its store in Scarborough in June 2022.

This enables better selection and expanded delivery options for downtown Toronto’s online grocery customers.

Employees can now pick online grocery items six times faster than they could on a traditional sales floor.

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