DeCicco & Sons is expanding Simbe‘s Store Intelligence platform to all 12 of its New York and Connecticut stores after pilot locations cut out-of-stocks 35 percent within the first 60 days.
Simbe’s autonomous shelf-scanning robot, Tally, captures detailed shelf conditions multiple times daily, with that data flowing into the family-owned specialty grocer’s existing systems to help teams identify and resolve issues faster, supporting store operations, e-commerce and business intelligence.
In the first 60 days, DeCicco & Sons reported a 35 percent reduction in out-of-stocks, up to a 28 percent reduction in the average time items remained out of stock and enterprise-wide access to shelf data, with product information, aisle imagery and location insights integrated through APIs into existing systems to inform e-commerce availability, supplier decisions and store operations.
“Our customers count on us to have the products they love and a team ready to help,” said John DeCicco Jr., CEO of DeCicco & Sons. “Digitizing our shelves is foundational to our broader technology strategy, because it gives every system we run an accurate picture of what’s happening in our stores. With real-time visibility into stores, our teams can address corrective fixes sooner and spend more time providing the personal service that brings people back to DeCiccos.”
Built into existing workflows
Rather than requiring store teams to adopt a standalone tool, Simbe connects shelf-level data to the systems and routines associates already use, letting them stop searching for issues and focus on resolving them.
“Having better information about our shelves helps us take better care of our customers and our team,” said Chris Dapolito, manager of DeCicco & Sons’ Sleepy Hollow store. “I’m spending more of my day out in the store, talking with shoppers and supporting our department managers. Those relationships are a big part of what makes DeCiccos special, and Tally helps us build on them.”
“By connecting that intelligence to the systems and people running its business, DeCiccos is demonstrating how physical AI can elevate shopper experience, empower associates, and lay the foundation for increasingly autonomous retail,” said Caitlin Allen, SVP of market at Simbe.
San Francisco-based Simbe counts more than 75 retail banners in nearly a dozen countries and more than 3,000 stores under contract, with customers spanning grocery, home improvement, club, alcohol and farm supply retail, including Kroger and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Founded in 2006 by second-generation grocers John Jr., Joseph Jr. and Christopher DeCicco, DeCicco & Sons operates 12 specialty markets in New York and Connecticut, known for craft beer, prepared gourmet foods and humanely raised meats.
Related: Simbe Surpasses 3,000 Units In Shelf Intelligence Fleet