A revolutionary technology allows retailers and shoppers to see a real-time, simulated depiction of store stock remotely. 

The smart store technology uses cameras to monitor changing stock levels in store and at warehouses, reducing the need for manual stocktake, and potentially allowing consumers to see stock levels from their couch.

The cloud technology, showcased at the Amazon Web Services Summit in Sydney last week, allows retailers to prevent lost sales and stock stock loss by monitoring product’s whereabouts in real-time.

Simon Elisha, Head of Solution Architecture, ANZ Public Sector, Amazon Web Services told Retailbiz that applications of the technology are “endless,” both for retailers to accurately monitor stock levels and consumers wanting to check product availability.

The technology was showcased at the AWS Summit, Sydney, where a display of supermarket shelves can be seen virtually on the screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You can imagine there’s so many overheads in just bringing stock in, arranging it, taking account for things that get broken and stock slippage. This technology is really revolutionising that process and meaning that employers can spend time doing much more interactive things,” he said.

Consumers could use the cloud to check stock levels in real-time, preventing potential disappointment if an item is out of stock, and even allowing them to seamlessly reserve or order products when they arrive in-store.

“You could be sitting at home but browsing the store and that gives a lot more interactivity than traditional browsing a shop. The owner of the store can design it in a particular way for an experience and give the experience to you in real-time.”

The technology could also be tailored to give shoppers a more premium experience for more high-end labels.

“You can also see that happening for high end stores as well that want to provide a real experience that may not be accessible to everyone,” he said.

Retailers can use the technology to both give customers a more interactive and convenient experience while also gaining new efficiencies and reducing stock loss by automating stocktake.