Retail Company Walmart has scrapped plans to use robots to track its inventory.
China,
the world's largest supermarket, says it has ended its partnership with roaming
robot maker Bossa Nova Robotics.
The
machines scan the shelves to make sure all items are in stock and the prices
are correct.
They
are designed’ to help brick and mortar stores compete with online retailers
such as Amazon and Alibaba.
These
robots have been used’ in Wal-Mart stores since 2017 as they move towards more
automation.
"It
was an idea we tried in about 500 stores," Walmart said in a statement.
Walmart,
which recently sold Asda to billionaire Isa Brothers, said it would continue to
experiment with new technologies in its stores.
The
retail giant continues to use other robots in its stores, including autonomous
floor scrubbers.
Loss
of inventory is a problem for retailers, as sales can be affected’ if shoppers
do not find a product on store shelves.
Online
challenge
An
accurate inventory is also required for Walmart's increasingly popular pickup
and delivery services.
The
company posted massive revenue (137.7bn (7,107bn)) in the last quarter, boosted
by a 97% increase in its e-commerce platforms during the Code 19 ban.
With
fierce competition among retailers, other companies have adopted different
approaches to automation.
Online
retailers such as Amazon and Alibaba have tried to increase efficiency by using
robots in their warehouses.
Amazon
bought a robotics company in 2012 to increase efficiency at its completion
centers, where it now uses more than 200,000 robots.
Walmart's brick and mortar rival Target has been more reluctant to use robots in its stores, rather than preferring to interact with consumers and humans.
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