First Augmented Reality In-Store Execution Solution for Retail

Trax digitizes the physical world of retail. In 2010 Trax introduced a revolutionary new image recognition technology to the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Its purpose was to increase awareness of the importance and value of image recognition and to create greater efficiencies and results for consumer goods companies. Sales representatives can now receive analytical product and category information including out of stock, share of shelf, planograms/schematics, pricing and promotional compliance, and more, which is all delivered to their mobile phones while in the store. 

Trax’s new Shelf Capture Assistant provides an augmented reality (AR) experience for Trax mobile app users during store audits. It guides them to take photographs of a store shelf by outlining areas that they may have missed. Trax’s mobile AR assistant is built with the Apple ARKit introduced in iOS 11.     

The AR solution, which started development on the iOS 11 Beta program, is the first of its kind for the retail industry; brands and retailers can leverage the technology to improve how products are placed on the shelves in the stores.

During a store audit, it may be typical for the auditor or sales representative to get interrupted by shoppers walking by or even by a distracting store manager. With Shelf Capture Assistant, users can resume their photo capture tasks from the same point that they were interrupted. A fully captured store shelf in a shorter time frame results in quicker audits and more accurate insights to enable better execution in store.

The app also features a virtual ruler, an accurate way for users to calculate the exact distance and space of products on shelf. As brands pay top dollar for shelf space, Trax’s AR capabilities effortlessly help measure and improve shelf compliance in stores.

In addition to mobile phones and tablets, Trax partners with Internet of things (IoT) technology innovators including fixed cameras, robotics, and more to capture what is really happening in store.

Trax provides retail insights to some of the world’s largest CPG brands, such as Coca-Cola, P&G, Heineken, AB InBev, and Nestlé. The AR solution is now available for Trax’s current and potential customers to utilize.

There are other emerging startups entering the smart shelf sector due to the vast need to quickly and effectively measure shelf sets and compliance. This has been a heavily sought-after solution for CPGs and retailers for many years, and it is exciting to see such solutions thanks to advancements in technology. 

Lakeba is an organization that created Shelfie. Using Shelfie, store managers can ensure shelves are fully stocked and that the right prices are displayed in a much easier fashion. This new tool provides all the capabilities to check stock and prices, making staff more efficient and improving the overall shopping experience for customers.

Powershelf is also part of the smart shelf sector. It provides several CPG and retail solutions including out of stock sensors, beacon-activated mobile advertising, smart retail labels, lighted shelving, temperature control-enabled tags, and modular integrity. Its new technologies will increase on-shelf availability and generate shopper insights that can be used to improve product assortment and customer satisfaction.

ABI Research focuses on the smart shelf sector within Smart Retail. 

Smart shelves are a much-needed technology for the bricks & mortar store industry. As E-commerce shares rapidly increase in retail, it is evermore important for these stores to incorporate new technologies that keep shoppers visiting and making their experience enjoyable and valuable.