In 2021, we partnered with a major player in the meat industry to tackle a significant challenge: accurately recognizing and categorizing meat products. Visually similar items, such as sliced sausages, often confuse the human eye. This innovative project has made it easier to distinguish between different products by focusing on brand and subcategory levels rather than specific Stock Keeping Units (SKUs)
Overview
The client aimed to improve their merchandising for two main categories: fresh meats and processed meat products, including sausages, delicacies, and cooked meats. Their goal was to identify various sausage brands despite their visual similarities. Differentiating between types of meat, such as pork and beef, from photographs is nearly impossible for the human eye, but our solution excels in this area.
To ensure high accuracy, we meticulously fine-tuned the technology, which tackles two primary tasks:
Our Solution
Barcode Scanning for Product Presence and Price Audits
To address the presence and pricing of specific meat products, we developed a barcode scanner that verifies products’ On-Shelf Availability (OSA) and captures pricing information. This allows for real-time price audits across regions, ensuring compliance and competitive pricing.
Predictive Analytics
Predictive analytics forecast goal achievements based on historical data provides detailed insights by brand, segment, and product type. All recognition processes are performed on mobile devices, delivering real-time updates and performance tracking.
Manager Mode
Real-time task assignment based on field observations allows direct interaction from the highest levels of management down to field merchandisers, ensuring prompt adjustments and optimal product displays. Implementing our solution initially posed a challenge as all employees adjusted to the increased transparency and real-time reporting capabilities. However, the immediate visibility of field activities has enhanced accountability, reducing opportunities for report manipulation.
So far…
- With approximately 50,000-60,000 monthly visits, our system has replaced traditional Sales Force Automation (SFA) tools, proving more efficient for auditing and field personnel management.
- OSA and other crucial KPIs are calculated directly on the devices. By scanning barcodes, employees can instantly access all the information, even without an internet connection.
Our advanced image recognition technology for meat merchandising has revolutionized the industry, providing detailed, accurate product recognition and placement optimization. The client has benefitted from enhanced visibility, accountability, and efficiency, ultimately driving sales through better product placement and real-time data insights.
If you would like to learn more about our AI-powered image recognition technology for merchandising, feel free to reach out.
