Some might find it a bit odd while searching for insulation or new wall paint. But they’ll have to get used to it: a robot is now operating at the Hornbach store in Zwolle. As far as we know, it’s the first retail chain in the Netherlands to have such a robot.
“It’s getting crazier and crazier… Soon we’ll no longer need any staff in the stores,” wrote one Hornbach visitor on social media, sharing photos of Zippie driving through the aisles.
According to a Hornbach spokesperson, things won’t get that bad, she emphasized after RTL Nieuws asked. The new robot won’t replace any staff members at the store.
Scan empty shelves
So what exactly does it do? The robot circulates around Zwolle, scanning the shelves with a camera to detect which ones are (almost) empty. It then relays this information to colleagues, who can then reorder or replenish the products. “This prevents empty shelves, frees up colleagues to focus on customers, and ensures customers don’t miss out.”
The robot was “test-driven” in Zwolle for six months. Before it could be put to work, it was programmed to navigate the hardware store. According to the spokesperson, there were no collisions. “No, customers are positive too. Children, in particular, enjoy seeing the robot.”
The robot states that the camera does not capture recognizable images of people, and that the images the robot takes will be deleted after 14 days.
Next month, Zippie will also be crossing the border and starting work at a German Hornbach store, where the robot’s deployment will be further investigated. The entire Netherlands may then be next. According to Hornbach, the DIY store is the first in the Dutch retail market to have such a robot operating.
Source: https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/binnenland/artikel/5569179/hornbach-robot-producten-scannen-zippie
