Multipurpose robots detect out-of-stock products, check for correct product pricing and item location

Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil (NYSE: JBL) and leader in retail automation, is rolling out in-store robotics at Stine, LLC to assist in elevating operational efficiencies and customer-service excellence. Badger Technologies' multipurpose autonomous robots empower Stine's stores to detect out-of-stock (OOS) products with more than 95% accuracy while helping to decrease OOS products by up to 50%. Additionally, in-store robots are enabling Stine to improve price-tag accuracy by more than 97%.

For Stine, the decision to introduce autonomous robots was driven by the company's overarching commitment to its hard-working associates and loyal customers. "We always look for innovative ways to increase productivity by removing operational obstacles," said Robert Spears, CIO, Stine, LLC. "Badger Technologies' robots free our associates from time-consuming inventory checks, enabling them to help customers while ensuring our products are placed and priced correctly."

Based in Sulphur, La., the 13-store hardware-retail chain serves customers throughout Louisiana and Mississippi with a vast inventory of home-improvement products and building material supplies. Long recognized for dedication to the communities it serves, Stine received the 2014 National Golden Hammer Retailer of the Year award for its strong performance, adoption of industry best practices, and ambitious plans for the future.

Data-Driven Business Outcomes

Autonomous robots help alleviate many of the toughest operational problems facing retailers today. Not only do the robots offload manual, tedious tasks from store associates, they also ease the burden of addressing persistent labor shortages. Additionally, in-store robots improve on-shelf product availability by generating actionable data and analytics to provide a more accurate view of shelf conditions.

The collection and correlation of sell-through and pricing-trend data, along with out-of-stock (OOS) duration and frequency, enable retailers to prioritize product replenishment. Badger Technologies' multipurpose robots also support elevating store safety and cleanliness by swiftly identifying hazards, such as spills of liquids, powders, or bulk-item foods, to further mitigate risk.

"Our multipurpose autonomous robots offer much-needed relief by extending staff operations and producing critical data to increase efficiencies and improve shopping experiences," said William "BJ" Santiago, CEO of Badger Technologies. "The robots deployed by Stine are helping improve customer satisfaction, storewide operations, and retail revenues."

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. A robotics pioneer, Badger Technologies has deployed more than 650 robots that automate hazard detection and resolve a host of inventory and data disconnects to improve on-shelf product availability, price integrity, store profitability, and shopping experiences. As part of Jabil, Badger Technologies has access to leading-edge retail automation technologies, innovative cloud software and services, global supply chain management capabilities, and world-class manufacturing services.