Out-of-stock products, pricing errors, and messy shelves can lead to frustrated shoppers and huge losses—over $1 trillion in missed sales every year. With Intel® RealSense™ depth cameras powering Simbe’s Tally, the world’s first autonomous inventory robot, retailers are able to see and act on insights that were once out of reach. Here’s how these cameras help improve retail operations and keep stores running at their best.
What Makes Intel RealSense Depth Cameras So Effective?
Intel® RealSense™ depth cameras use 3D depth sensing technology, giving Tally the ability to see its environment in three dimensions. This allows Tally to create a 3D map of the store, understand the layout, and see the depth of products and objects in real time delivering high-definition views of every aisle and shelf. Unlike traditional 2D cameras, this depth data allows Tally to map shelves, track inventory, and detect any issues—whether it’s a misplaced item or an out-of-stock product—while also enabling immersive virtual tours.
Delivering Powerful Benefits
By combining Intel® RealSense™ cameras with Tally’s advanced AI and computer vision, retailers get a range of benefits allowing them to:
- Keep Shelves Stocked and Ready: Tally continuously scans shelves, creating a realogram that’s always up to date. This replaces the static, often outdated planograms most stores rely on. Tally immediately spots gaps in inventory or missing products, helping ensure shelves stay stocked and ready for shoppers.
- Make Sure Prices are Always Right: Intel® RealSense™ cameras help Tally double-check pricing and ensure that promotional tags are correctly placed. By comparing the actual tags on the shelf with digital pricing data, Tally flags any discrepancies, helping retailers avoid pricing errors and ensuring shoppers always see the right prices.
- Navigate Aisles with Ease: Tally can easily move through busy aisles without disrupting the shopping experience. Thanks to Intel® RealSense™ cameras, Tally detects obstacles like shoppers, carts, and displays and can smoothly navigate around them. This means Tally can operate during normal store hours, moving quietly alongside shoppers and store associates without interruption.
- Get More Done, Faster: Intel® RealSense™ cameras allow Tally to cover large sections of the store quickly and efficiently. It can audit up to 30,000 items per hour, reducing the time spent on manual inventory checks and price updates. With this level of speed and precision, retailers can scale operations and keep inventory and pricing accurate with much less effort.
“Intel RealSense depth cameras offer a seamless out-of-the-box experience with one of the most reliable multi-camera systems on the market, an important factor in our decision to work with Intel RealSense.”
- Brad Bogolea, Simbe CEO
Why Intel RealSense?
Intel® RealSenseTM depth cameras were chosen for Tally because they’re built to handle the complexity and demands of retail environments:
- Comprehensive Shelf Visibility: The depth cameras allow Tally to see both the front and back of the shelves, ensuring nothing gets missed.
- Real-Time Data Processing: The cameras’ ability to process depth data in real-time ensures that any discrepancies—whether it’s a missing product or incorrect price tag—are flagged and addressed fast.
- Compact and Power-Efficient: With a small form factor and low power needs, Intel® RealSense™ cameras allow Tally to operate throughout the day without draining energy, ensuring consistent performance.
- High Precision in Low-Light Environments: Thanks to global shutter technology, Tally can operate effectively in low-light conditions, like stock rooms or dimly lit aisles, ensuring 24/7 functionality.
“Intel RealSense cameras were the best option for Simbe’s robot, Tally, for multiple reasons – they allow the robot to see the front and back of the shelf and allow this visual representation to be performed while Tally is moving. Holding still isn’t an option for Tally.”
- Mirza Shah, Simbe CTO
The Future of Store Intelligence
Intel® RealSense™ depth cameras play a central role in making Tally the most advanced retail inventory robot, powering the largest number of retail banners in the world. With their ability to provide precise depth data, these cameras enable Tally to perform real-time shelf mapping, inventory tracking, and price verification with unparalleled accuracy. Retailers adopting Tally have achieved 98% on-shelf availability and seen returns as high as 15x —making it clear that computer vision, AI, and automation is the future of retail.
Learn more in our case study.
