The small trial, which is taking place at a handful of UK supermarkets, will see the new technology scan shelves hourly to detect in-stocks, out-of-stocks, lows, spoiled produce and more, according to The Grocer.
Currently, Asda has installed Focal Systems cameras in five stores, which are placed down aisles on poles, at the top of shelves.
It’s thought that the AI-powered cameras provide a view of around eight feet of shelf space opposite.
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The supermarket giant confirmed to Newsquest that this pilot is still in its early stages.
Speaking to The Grocer in April this year, separately to the Asda trial, Focal Systems CEO Kevin Johnson revealed that “deep learning breakthroughs in computer vision have enabled the precise identification of products, shelf conditions, and anomalies in highly complex and dynamic retail environments”.
AI cameras have ‘transformed’ a ‘time-consuming process’ in retail
Johnson also explained to the publisher how the “innovations have transformed what was once a manual, time-consuming process into a fully automated, intelligent retail operating system – making real-time shelf visibility not just possible, but powerful.”
This is due to the “advances in edge computing,” meaning data can be “processed locally” and “improved cloud infrastructure supporting integration with retailer systems.”
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It’s not the first time Asda has delved into the world of new technology this year.
Back in March, it confirmed a trial of Live Facial Recognition at five stores in Greater Manchester, to assess how it can be used to improve colleague and customer safety in store.
This was because retailers are facing an “epidemic of retail crime,” including Asda, which recorded circa 1,400 assaults on colleagues last year, an average of four per day.
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The pilot, which initially ran for two months, used technology that was integrated into the supermarket’s existing CCTV network and worked by scanning images and comparing the results to a known list of individuals who have previously committed criminal activity on an Asda site.
If a match was found by the automated system, in a matter of seconds, a member of the Asda head office security team conducted a check and provided feedback to the store in real time.
Have you spotted these AI-powered cameras being trialled in your Asda supermarket? Let us know in the comments below.
