LAS VEGAS — Brain Corp, specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics technology, revealed ShelfOptix this week at Groceryshop in Las Vegas, marking the company's formal entrance into the retail data and shelf analytics market.
Developed in partnership with Driveline Retail Merchandising, ShelfOptix represents a new business model for retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Instead of investing in robotics hardware themselves, retailers can now access real-time shelf intelligence through a managed service. Brain Corp and Driveline will own, deploy and maintain the robots, while delivering actionable insights through a centralized analytics platform.
“This is about eliminating the need for capital expenditure,” says Tim Prieve, senior director of strategic accounts for Brain Corp. “We own the robots, we collect and process the data and we provide a holistic dashboard that supports everything from planogram and price compliance to inventory visibility and promotional execution.”
The robots, equipped with cameras and LiDAR sensors, autonomously navigate store aisles while capturing high-resolution shelf images. These images are stitched together and analyzed with computer vision to identify out-of-stocks, phantom inventory, mispriced items and planogram compliance, Prieve says. In produce and fresh categories, the robots are currently validating label and product presence, with future enhancements expected to expand coverage.
To ensure smooth deployment, ShelfOptix introduces “robot wranglers” — dedicated field staff responsible for operating, maintaining and overseeing each robot across multiple retail locations, including Walmart, Target, Dollar General and convenience stores.
“With robot-powered shelf intelligence delivered through the simplicity of a fully managed service, ShelfOptix is making accurate shelf insights more accessible at scale,” says David Pinn, CEO of Brain Corp, in a news release. “This gives retailers and brands the visibility they need to close the reality gap between what systems show and what's truly on the shelf, without having to operate or maintain a single robot. It's a unique service that's precise, packed with insights and effortless to scale.”
ShelfOptix gives retailers and brands a reliable source of truth for shelf intelligence, the company says, while addressing the complexity, cost and labor often associated with collecting data at scale by combining:
- Portable shelf-scanning robots: AI-powered precision and consistency, with a foldable and portable design for easy transport between stores.
- Service-based model: Retailers and brands gain access to high-fidelity shelf insights, without adding operational burden.
- National in-store coverage: A team of 15,000+ field reps can collect and address shelf insights to improve on-shelf availability, ordering, planograms and pricing compliance.
Looking ahead, Brain Corp signaled future capabilities integrating RFID technology directly into product packaging, allowing for faster, more precise inventory tracking. The company also previewed plans for multiuse form factors, such as robotic arms capable of handling fresh categories like bakery and deli.
ShelfOptix also plans to incorporate electronic shelf label (ESL) integration, enabling automated monitoring and even dynamic price changes.
The service officially launched with its first portable robot unit at Groceryshop.
“This is the next step for retail technology, and it's here now,” Prieve says.
