Morrisons has embarked on a trial of innovative aisle-roaming robots designed to monitor product displays on shelves within its stores. The supermarket is piloting Tally robots, which are touted as the world's first autonomous inventory bots, developed by the US technology firm Simbe. This trial is taking place at three Morrisons stores located in Wetherby, Redcar, and Stockton.

Katherine Allanach, Morrisons’ technology manager, explained to The Grocer the role of these robots: “It is a crucial but time-consuming task and so Tally aims to allow more time for colleagues to focus on customer service.” The primary function of Tally is to ensure that the products on the shelves are displayed correctly and comply with legal requirements, a task traditionally carried out manually by staff.

These Tally robots utilise artificial intelligence and computer vision to navigate store aisles autonomously multiple times a day, collecting detailed data on stock placement and availability. The robots are capable of capturing between 15,000 and 30,000 product images per hour and are designed to self-dock at charging stations when not in use. Morrisons is the first UK supermarket to adopt this technology from Simbe, marking a significant step in integrating AI-driven solutions into retail operations.

Feedback from both customers and staff has been positive, with a Morrisons spokeswoman noting, “They have been intrigued and curious but very positive and colleagues in particular can see how supportive Tally could be.” The robots’ ability to assist staff in managing the store environment has been recognised as a valuable support tool.

The use of Tally robots is not unique to Morrisons but forms part of a growing global presence. The robots are already operational in stores belonging to retailers such as Carrefour, BJ’s, Albertsons, ShopRite, and Kroger. Across these deployments, Tally robots have collectively covered 75,000 miles, captured 1.5 billion images, and accumulated 300,000 hours of autonomous operation. Simbe highlighted to The Grocer that Morrisons’ adoption of the Tally robot represents a significant expansion of the company’s global reach across nine countries and three continents, reflecting an increasing trend among retailers to use autonomous technology for enhanced store visibility and operational efficiency.

This initiative is part of Morrisons' broader commitment to leveraging AI technology to improve store operations. In April 2022, the supermarket began using AI-powered shelf-monitoring cameras from Seattle-based Focal Systems. These cameras scan shelves hourly to detect in-stock and out-of-stock items, identify products running low, monitor planogram compliance, and spot spoiled produce, notifying staff to prioritise necessary actions.

The recent sighting of the Tally robot trial by Toby Pickard, retail futures senior partner at IGD, underscores the growing interest in AI-driven retail innovations aimed at boosting operational productivity and accuracy. With these advancements, Morrisons continues to explore cutting-edge technologies to optimise its store management processes.