Robots taking inventory

[Rainger99]

I was at BJ’s the other day and they have a robot taking inventory. It was interesting to watch it go down the aisle scanning the items. It is supposed to be much more accurate than humans and you don’t have to pay for social security, Medicare, or health benefits.

MEET "TALLY" AT BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUBS | The Shelf Inventory Robot | Simbe - YouTube (https://youtube.com/shorts/lzEZtwBHS8M?si=iD31P2eC3TEWJOjc)


How a robot named Tally is helping BJ's boost the customer experience | Retail Customer Experience (https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/articles/how-a-robot-named-tally-is-helping-bjs-boost-the-customer-experience/#:~:text=Tally%20roams%20aisles%2C%20and%20the,%2C %20or%20need%20re%2Dstocking).

[Kenswing]

You should see an Amazon distribution center operate.

[dewilson58]

As minimum wages increase, job loss increases as well.

[tophcfa]

I was at BJ’s the other day and they have a robot taking inventory. It was interesting to watch it go down the aisle scanning the items. It is supposed to be much more accurate than humans and you don’t have to pay for social security, Medicare, or health benefits.

MEET "TALLY" AT BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUBS | The Shelf Inventory Robot | Simbe - YouTube (https://youtube.com/shorts/lzEZtwBHS8M?si=iD31P2eC3TEWJOjc)


How a robot named Tally is helping BJ's boost the customer experience | Retail Customer Experience (https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/articles/how-a-robot-named-tally-is-helping-bjs-boost-the-customer-experience/#:~:text=Tally%20roams%20aisles%2C%20and%20the,%2C %20or%20need%20re%2Dstocking).

It’s the future, especially as minimum wage keeps getting bumped up. Plus, the robots never call in sick or need a break, are not subject to mood swings, don’t talk back to their boss, and they don’t want to form a labor union. What good is a higher minimum wage when the job gets replaced by a machine?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, since the employees that these robots replace, are paid MORE than minimum wage to start with. In addition, someone has to make those robots. Someone has to write the programs for them, and update the programs as the needs of each store changes. Someone has to deliver them. Someone has to repair them. Someone has to do periodic maintenance on them. Someone has to run the company that manufactures them, and they need sales people to convince store companies to buy or lease them. And I can guarantee that NONE of the people doing any of these things is being paid minimum wage.

What is happening, is there's a whole new genre of skilled employees who work in robotics. A great career opportunity for someone who doesn't want to be stuck counting boxes of cereal on a shelf for the rest of their lives.

[PugMom]

It’s the future, especially as minimum wage keeps getting bumped up. Plus, the robots never call in sick or need a break, are not subject to mood swings, don’t talk back to their boss, and they don’t want to form a labor union. What good is a higher minimum wage when the job gets replaced by a machine?

many people said that years ago, --we were told we were bluffing & now it has come to pass
very sad

[LeRoySmith]

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, since the employees that these robots replace, are paid MORE than minimum wage to start with. In addition, someone has to make those robots. Someone has to write the programs for them, and update the programs as the needs of each store changes. Someone has to deliver them. Someone has to repair them. Someone has to do periodic maintenance on them. Someone has to run the company that manufactures them, and they need sales people to convince store companies to buy or lease them. And I can guarantee that NONE of the people doing any of these things is being paid minimum wage.

What is happening, is there's a whole new genre of skilled employees who work in robotics. A great career opportunity for someone who doesn't want to be stuck counting boxes of cereal on a shelf for the rest of their lives.

I don't know about inventory robots but I've replaced many cleaners with robotic vacuums or ride on vacuums. All those folks were at or below minimum wage. A $15,000 vacuum is a bargain compared to a handful of cleaners. Salary is a major factor in the decision making process.

[dewilson58]

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, ....................
.

Has everything to do with rising minimum wage.
Minimum wage increases have impacted "all" wages.
These robots replace workers.
If it wasn't the bottom of the wage structure, it was very close.
They did not purchase robots without a return-on-investment.

[Topspinmo]

IMO won’t be too long before they have this attachment and take over security…:shrug:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoUVeyaY_8

[billethkid]

There is nothing new about the evolution of automation and the jobs it replaced and the new generation of jobs created.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Just wait until you give your order at a restaurant to a robot. I’ve heard about a Mexican food place in Louisiana that has a robot that gives the chips/salsa.

[LeRoySmith]

Just wait until you give your order at a restaurant to a robot. I’ve heard about a Mexican food place in Louisiana that has a robot that gives the chips/salsa.

The fast food joints are already trying to do that. 8 years ago on Dallas a Jack in the box was self serve kiosk only. At first I was disappointed, after I learned the tech it was so much better. McD is trying it now (but the news story of fecal matter found on every one of the kiosks is kind of off-putting).

[tophcfa]

Just wait until you give your order at a restaurant to a robot. I’ve heard about a Mexican food place in Louisiana that has a robot that gives the chips/salsa.

Do they want to get tips?

[TeresaE]

It’s the future, especially as minimum wage keeps getting bumped up. Plus, the robots never call in sick or need a break, are not subject to mood swings, don’t talk back to their boss, and they don’t want to form a labor union. What good is a higher minimum wage when the job gets replaced by a machine?

I agree with everything you say, but I despise that thing and want to knock it over. AI is here. Skynet here we come.

[Rzepecki]

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, since the employees that these robots replace, are paid MORE than minimum wage to start with. In addition, someone has to make those robots. Someone has to write the programs for them, and update the programs as the needs of each store changes. Someone has to deliver them. Someone has to repair them. Someone has to do periodic maintenance on them. Someone has to run the company that manufactures them, and they need sales people to convince store companies to buy or lease them. And I can guarantee that NONE of the people doing any of these things is being paid minimum wage.

What is happening, is there's a whole new genre of skilled employees who work in robotics. A great career opportunity for someone who doesn't want to be stuck counting boxes of cereal on a shelf for the rest of their lives.

You’ve made a number of great points. 👏👏👏

[rsmurano]

Some people don’t get it! This has everything to do with the rising minimum wage for think less jobs. Robots have been replacing expensive jobs for decades; have you seen how new cars are built?
Another myth: it does take people with higher wages to program, maintain, and make these robots. A few programmers write the code for thousands of robots, a few maintenance guys can support hundreds/thousands of robots, and you might have robots building these robots. In many places, 1 person can program a CNC machine that will pump out thousands/millions of widgets. How about the new 3D printers that really anybody can program.
Technology will keep getting better and better and when more people implement AI, everything I mentioned above will be even more pronounced.
When robots get smart enough to do the programming, design, and the building of future robots, that’s when we have to worry

[Shipping up to Boston]

Can't wait to see this demo attempting to argue a point or better yet...lodge a complaint with their robotic servants! Hilarious

[SaucyJim]

Here’s something for ya. Half of these responses could be robots protecting their own existence. Or may I’m a robot?

Hi mom! (Talking to the toaster.)

[tjdmlhw]

Just wait until you give your order at a restaurant to a robot. I’ve heard about a Mexican food place in Louisiana that has a robot that gives the chips/salsa.

There is a restaurant close to our home in Marietta that uses a robot to deliver the chips/salsa. It's fun to watch, but the waitresses have to fill the baskets and bowls and place them on the robot. Then they have to enter the table number. In this case the waitress taking the food to the table would be a lot faster and easier.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I don't know about inventory robots but I've replaced many cleaners with robotic vacuums or ride on vacuums. All those folks were at or below minimum wage. A $15,000 vacuum is a bargain compared to a handful of cleaners. Salary is a major factor in the decision making process.

I've never worked in a place that had cleaners whose only job was to vacuum the floor. I can't imagine any office I've ever worked in, spending $15,000 on a vacuum, and still need humans to wash the toilets and counters and sinks in the bathroom, sanitize the front desk, empty all the waste baskets and refill them with bags, bring the trash down to the compactor and run the compactor, clean any windows between the foyer and the front office, sweep and mop all floors that don't have carpeting, shake out the rain mats...

Seems like a huge waste of money to me. But then, I vacuum my own house, I don't hire cleaners to clean my house for me, and if I did, I'd make them vacuum AND do the rest of the cleaning, for a set rate and not an hourly wage. If they can get the job done faster, then that'd mean their hourly pay was higher. If they are slow, then their hourly pay ends up being smaller. If it takes a two-person crew a half hour to clean my house and I pay them $50 for the visit, then they're getting $25 each. If they do 5 houses that day, they're earning $125/day. If they do that 5 days a week, that's $650/week. Four weeks a month is $2600/month. Not too shabby for a part-time gig in Florida.

[kendi]

Wonder how it tally’s the group of items that are stored behind the others. Would interesting to know.

[Rainger99]

Wonder how it tally’s the group of items that are stored behind the others. Would interesting to know.

I am not sure how it does that or how it reaches items stacked on the top shelves.

However, I read that in a mid-sized store like a Walgreens, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 products for sale and it takes an employee 20 to 30 hours a week to audit all those items. One Tally robot can scan 15,000 items in an hour.

[RRGuyNJ]

It’s the future, especially as minimum wage keeps getting bumped up. Plus, the robots never call in sick or need a break, are not subject to mood swings, don’t talk back to their boss, and they don’t want to form a labor union. What good is a higher minimum wage when the job gets replaced by a machine?

I cuss my Roomba and Shark robotic vacuum at least once a week. They go on strike occasionally and I find them hiding under the bed. LOL

[RRGuyNJ]

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, since the employees that these robots replace, are paid MORE than minimum wage to start with. In addition, someone has to make those robots. Someone has to write the programs for them, and update the programs as the needs of each store changes. Someone has to deliver them. Someone has to repair them. Someone has to do periodic maintenance on them. Someone has to run the company that manufactures them, and they need sales people to convince store companies to buy or lease them. And I can guarantee that NONE of the people doing any of these things is being paid minimum wage.

What is happening, is there's a whole new genre of skilled employees who work in robotics. A great career opportunity for someone who doesn't want to be stuck counting boxes of cereal on a shelf for the rest of their lives.

Everything said other than the repair and maintenance costs are paid through the initial investment by purchasing the equipment. As far as wages are concerned, if the store had to pay a fee equal to what minimum wage is just to have and run the equipment, they probably wouldn't buy the equipment. So, wages definitely matter in these changing times.

[Two Bills]

The time to worry is when the robots start a burial service.

[dougawhite]

You should see an Amazon distribution center operate.

https://youtu.be/YL9XjyXsKKk?si=-TjbQPR80B3EKjyF

[dewilson58]

I've never worked in a place that had cleaners whose only job was to vacuum the floor. I can't imagine any office I've ever worked in, spending $15,000 on a vacuum, and still need humans to wash the toilets and counters and sinks in the bathroom, sanitize the front desk, empty all the waste baskets and refill them with bags, bring the trash down to the compactor and run the compactor, clean any windows between the foyer and the front office, sweep and mop all floors that don't have carpeting, shake out the rain mats...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CCI-ysfFr8

It's all here / coming baby!!!

[tophcfa]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CCI-ysfFr8

It's all here / coming baby!!!

I wanna get one of those. Never have to lift the toilet set again : )

[Glowing Horizon]

It’s the future, especially as minimum wage keeps getting bumped up. Plus, the robots never call in sick or need a break, are not subject to mood swings, don’t talk back to their boss, and they don’t want to form a labor union. What good is a higher minimum wage when the job gets replaced by a machine?

You missed the biggest costs. Robots can’t sue if they get hurt on the job, do not require paid health insurance and do not quit then go to your competitor after they’ve been trained.

[Glowing Horizon]

I cuss my Roomba and Shark robotic vacuum at least once a week. They go on strike occasionally and I find them hiding under the bed. LOL

But when they run over your pet’s carpet bomb & keep going, your day just got a whole lot worse.

[Glowing Horizon]

I've never worked in a place that had cleaners whose only job was to vacuum the floor. I can't imagine any office I've ever worked in, spending $15,000 on a vacuum, and still need humans to wash the toilets and counters and sinks in the bathroom, sanitize the front desk, empty all the waste baskets and refill them with bags, bring the trash down to the compactor and run the compactor, clean any windows between the foyer and the front office, sweep and mop all floors that don't have carpeting, shake out the rain mats...

Seems like a huge waste of money to me. But then, I vacuum my own house, I don't hire cleaners to clean my house for me, and if I did, I'd make them vacuum AND do the rest of the cleaning, for a set rate and not an hourly wage. If they can get the job done faster, then that'd mean their hourly pay was higher. If they are slow, then their hourly pay ends up being smaller. If it takes a two-person crew a half hour to clean my house and I pay them $50 for the visit, then they're getting $25 each. If they do 5 houses that day, they're earning $125/day. If they do that 5 days a week, that's $650/week. Four weeks a month is $2600/month. Not too shabby for a part-time gig in Florida.

A person who cleans 5 houses a day 5 days a week deserves significantly more than your measly $25 bc they have to supply cleaning supplies and they lose a lot of time traveling & they pay travel costs from one job to the next. $32,500 is below the federal poverty level for good reason. They get no paid vacations or sick time, no pension or social security, and cleaning is very hard on the body’s skin, joints, lungs, etc. so that stream of income will be unreliable long term. If they get hurt doing the job, there’s no workman’s comp. Or disability. Most never report income to IRS & most misers do not report the payments as income on a 1099 as you are legally required, so they can’t prove their own income for SSI or SSDI.Would YOU clean 5x2=10 dirty toilets every day for what you pay them? Of course you wouldn’t!

[Glowing Horizon]

many people said that years ago, --we were told we were bluffing & now it has come to pass
very sad

It has not yet “come to pass” but it will. However, not in our lifetime. Now, better get yourself on over to the square to get in line & make yourself Happy! We should be very grateful that our reign will end before the clock strikes midnight.

[Indydealmaker]

Has nothing to do with minimum wage, since the employees that these robots replace, are paid MORE than minimum wage to start with. In addition, someone has to make those robots. Someone has to write the programs for them, and update the programs as the needs of each store changes. Someone has to deliver them. Someone has to repair them. Someone has to do periodic maintenance on them. Someone has to run the company that manufactures them, and they need sales people to convince store companies to buy or lease them. And I can guarantee that NONE of the people doing any of these things is being paid minimum wage.

What is happening, is there's a whole new genre of skilled employees who work in robotics. A great career opportunity for someone who doesn't want to be stuck counting boxes of cereal on a shelf for the rest of their lives.

The initial cost is capitalized and amortized over several years or leased.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

A person who cleans 5 houses a day 5 days a week deserves significantly more than your measly $25 bc they have to supply cleaning supplies and they lose a lot of time traveling & they pay travel costs from one job to the next. $32,500 is below the federal poverty level for good reason. They get no paid vacations or sick time, no pension or social security, and cleaning is very hard on the body’s skin, joints, lungs, etc. so that stream of income will be unreliable long term. If they get hurt doing the job, there’s no workman’s comp. Or disability. Most never report income to IRS & most misers do not report the payments as income on a 1099 as you are legally required, so they can’t prove their own income for SSI or SSDI.Would YOU clean 5x2=10 dirty toilets every day for what you pay them? Of course you wouldn’t!

I think you're a bit stuck on the dollar amount. You're also ignoring that I said someone might pay $50 for the job - if it was just one person doing that job, they'd get the whole $50. $50 for a half-hour's work at a house, times five houses per day is $250 per day, for 2-1/2 hours of work (not including travelling) is great money, for a part-time job. I wouldn't pay them anything - I clean my own house. My dad has a service come in once a week, he pays $60, and it's 2 women who come in, they own the business, and he gets invoiced. They bring in some supplies but use the supplies at the house for the rest. They use my dad's vacuum cleaner, mop, and broom.