Albert deploys AI shelf-scanning robots across 350 Czech stores
Albert, the Czech Republic's retail chain owned by Ahold Delhaize, has expanded its use of AI-powered robots to scan shelves during live store operations. The system, built on Brain Corp's BrainOS technology, identifies empty shelves, misplaced products, and pricing errors without stopping store traffic.
The move addresses a persistent operational problem. Albert's inventory corrections have historically depended on store staff manually scanning shelves after restocking, a process vulnerable to human error, staff shortages, and time constraints. Empty shelves often remained unfilled until the next delivery window, costing sales and frustrating customers.
Performance exceeded baseline targets
During the pilot phase, the scanning system achieved accuracy rates in the high 90s across product identification, price tags, and exception detection. Albert had set a baseline target of 90% accuracy. The system's accuracy improved with each scan, demonstrating that the AI model learned from repeated store conditions.
The data revealed operational gaps that manual processes had masked. Store staff discovered outdated prices on paper tags-errors they corrected immediately once the system flagged them.
"The data was clear, consistent, and accurate," said Ivana Stastnikova, Store Operations Process Lead at Albert. "This allowed us to identify human errors we'd been missing."
Building on prior automation success
Albert had already deployed autonomous floor-cleaning robots powered by BrainOS in 2022. That success made the case for shelf scanning clearer: automation could deliver both operational consistency and actionable data at scale.
The shelf-scanning expansion fits Albert's stated strategy of digitalisation, automation, and data-driven decision-making. By reducing reliance on manual inventory corrections, the company says it strengthens execution and gives operations teams better visibility into stock levels.
Albert plans to scale the technology across its markets in Central and Southeastern Europe, where it operates 350 stores.
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