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In its ongoing efforts to deliver a high level of service to customers and employees, Theisen’s Home•Farm•Auto has added Simbe Robotics’ shelf-scanning robots to three store locations in Dubuque and Dyersville, Iowa, and Jefferson, Wisconsin. Tally utilizes AI and computer vision to scan Theisen’s stores multiple times a day. These insights are then processed in real-time and translated over to the Simbe platform, enabling associates to take action quickly when a product is out of stock, mispriced or misplaced.
Intentionally designed to be unobtrusive, Tally makes subtle noises to avoid surprising or startling anyone as it scans shelves. If Tally meets a customer in the aisle, it will pause to allow them to finish their task, go around them or turn around and come back later so as not to interrupt their shopping.
“We are committed to delivering the highest quality shopping experience for our valued customers, and Tally is a powerful tool for taking that to the next level,” says Steve Jensen, Theisen’s CMMO. “Bringing Tally to our Dubuque, Dyersville and Jefferson locations is an exciting step forward. This technology makes daily tasks more efficient, so our teams can focus on what matters most—taking care of customers.”
Hardware Retailing connected with Theisen’s COO Scott Buse who shared the ways the partnership between Simbe and Theisen’s will benefit employees, customers and the overall operation.
Hardware Retailing (HR): How will Tally help save employees time and effort?
Scott Buse (SB): Tally saves our store teams a tremendous amount of time by automating routine inventory tasks, while ensuring stock is available in the right place at the right price. We’ve already seen a big difference in how many hours associates can dedicate to customer service and other high-value tasks that they enjoy more than manually auditing shelves, which has had a positive impact on both shopper and store team satisfaction. For nearly 100 years, Theisen’s mission has been to put customers first, and this operational excellence helps us continue to prioritize our communities, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our customers and adapt to their evolving needs.
HR: Have you received customer feedback on Tally? Have they noticed the addition of the robot?
SB: Yes, our shoppers’ response to Tally has been overwhelmingly positive. The few questions or concerns we’ve received are easily addressed once we explain what Tally does and how it frees up our associates to spend more time helping customers. By automating routine shelf scans, Tally allows us to reallocate staff where they’re needed most, ultimately improving the overall shopping experience.
For many of our customers, this is their first time seeing a robot in their everyday life, and they’ve been genuinely curious and excited about the innovation Tally brings to their local store. Broader shopper research shows that the majority of shoppers have a positive affinity and strong preference for robots in stores, which aligns with the response we’ve seen from our shoppers.
The early enthusiasm we’ve received reinforces why we introduced this technology in the first place: to keep shelves stocked, ensure price accuracy and help customers find what they need every time they visit Theisen’s.
HR: When does Tally run in the stores?
SB: Tally scans our stores three times per day. Its main scan generates a report that helps us locate items in inventory, ensure they’re available for purchase and confirm that pricing is accurate. Tally helps keep our posted prices up to date, which is key to maintaining customer trust.
Since Day 1 of deployment, Tally has been able to easily navigate up and down the aisles and weave around shoppers to create a cohesive shopping experience. In fact, we’ve had customers stop to observe Tally and ask questions about what it’s doing, which gives our team the opportunity to educate them on why this technology is beneficial to our store teams and customers and how it helps contribute to a faster, more reliable shopping experience.
HR: Do you have plans to roll Tally out in the other store locations?
SB: We’re incredibly excited about this initial phase of Tally’s roll out and the early results we’ve seen. We’re in a pivotal moment for retail, and Tally couldn’t have come at a better time for us. Innovation is playing an increasingly critical role in day-to-day retail operations, and we see Tally as a tool that helps us work smarter, adapt more quickly and amplify the efforts of our dedicated store associates—who remain at the heart of our success. Tally is now part of our Theisen’s family, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead.
See how other independent home improvement retailers are using inventory-scanning robots in their operations here, here and here.
