• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechTarget

Target’s New Robot Helper Is Busy At Work On Aisle 3

By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 28, 2016, 7:53 PM ET
Target Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings
Photograph by Scott Olson — Getty Images

Target is testing robots that track inventory on its store shelves including shampoo and laundry detergent.

The retail giant is conducting a one-week trial at one of its department stores in downtown San Francisco, according to a source familiar with the matter and confirmed by three store clerks.

Simbe Robotics, a Silicon Valley startup, built the robot called Tally that it says can roll autonomously around the store while scanning products to determine if they have been misplaced, mispriced, or are low in stock.

Here’s a video of the robot in action, via Twitter:

The future is here! Target in downtown San Francisco has a robot that scans the aisles managing inventory! pic.twitter.com/Nug1cpJhZL

— Mike Yawney (@Gadget_Guy) April 26, 2016

 

Three Target store clerks in San Francisco told Fortune that the robot trial has been running for the past week. One of the clerks said Target was hoping to see how well the robots could detect and recognize items. Another clerk said that the robot seemed slow.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

In September, Fortune’s Phil Wahba reported that Target partnered with the startup accelerator, Techstars, to help fund and mentor companies focusing on retail technology near Target’s Minneapolis headquarters. Additionally, Target executives said the retail giant was said it was looking to develop a “concept store” that could incorporate robotics and other technologies, although details were limited.

Target (TGT) joins a growing list of retail companies testing robots in an effort to improve store operations and even customer service. Orchard Supply Hardware, a subsidiary of Lowe’s (LOW), has been using a customer assistant robot in a San Jose store from the company Fellow Robots that has a touchscreen that store customers can use to see what items are in stock. The robot can also take the customer to the spot where the item they want is located.

For more about Target, watch:

Meanwhile, Best Buy (BBY) has been using a robot named “Chloe” at a New York store that’s essentially a big robotic arm that can help retrieve DVDs, video games, and other items for customers

Update: Friday, 11:00 AM PST

A Target spokesperson told Fortune, “At Target, we use our stores to test new technologies and capabilities. We’re currently running a few tests in our San Francisco stores and don’t have any additional details to share at this time.”

About the Author
By Jonathan Vanian
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jonathan Vanian is a former Fortune reporter. He covered business technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, and other topics.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
SuccessJobs
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says AI assistants will act more like overbearing managers rather than job destroyers: ‘They’ll be micromanaging you’
By Emma BurleighApril 20, 2026
30 minutes ago
French prosecutors summon Elon Musk over X’s alleged “complicity” in spreading child abuse materials
LawElon Musk
French prosecutors summon Elon Musk over X’s alleged “complicity” in spreading child abuse materials
By The Associated Press and Samuel PetrequinApril 20, 2026
47 minutes ago
The hidden ROI of AI: What leaders should actually measure
AICommentary
The hidden ROI of AI: What leaders should actually measure
By Beena Ammananth and Jim RowanApril 20, 2026
4 hours ago
elon musk
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Private markets have soared to $10 trillion in AUM. But why have they underperformed public markets?
By Allie GarfinkleApril 20, 2026
4 hours ago
U.S. stock futures tumble as Iran refuses Trump’s ‘deal’ and Strait stays shut
Big TechMarkets
U.S. stock futures tumble as Iran refuses Trump’s ‘deal’ and Strait stays shut
By Jim EdwardsApril 20, 2026
5 hours ago
Apple's Siri assistant on a MacBook Pro in San Francisco on Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo: Jason Henry/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
What to expect at Apple’s WWDC
By Andrew NuscaApril 20, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Thousands of CEOs admit AI had no impact on employment or productivity—and it has economists resurrecting a paradox from 40 years ago
AI
Thousands of CEOs admit AI had no impact on employment or productivity—and it has economists resurrecting a paradox from 40 years ago
By Sasha RogelbergApril 19, 2026
1 day ago
Markets shudder as Strait of Hormuz starts resembling a combat zone. 'We're prepared to subject you to disabling fire'
Energy
Markets shudder as Strait of Hormuz starts resembling a combat zone. 'We're prepared to subject you to disabling fire'
By Jason MaApril 19, 2026
16 hours ago
Elon Musk bans résumés and cover letters in hiring for his chip team. These are the 3 bullet points he’s looking for instead
Future of Work
Elon Musk bans résumés and cover letters in hiring for his chip team. These are the 3 bullet points he’s looking for instead
By Jake AngeloApril 19, 2026
1 day ago
The explosion of U.S. debt is wiping out the 'safety premium' of Treasury bonds, and time is running out for an orderly fiscal solution, IMF warns
Economy
The explosion of U.S. debt is wiping out the 'safety premium' of Treasury bonds, and time is running out for an orderly fiscal solution, IMF warns
By Jason MaApril 19, 2026
20 hours ago
'We should absolutely be concerned about non-college-educated men today': higher rents, living at home, falling out of the labor market
Economy
'We should absolutely be concerned about non-college-educated men today': higher rents, living at home, falling out of the labor market
By Catherina GioinoApril 18, 2026
2 days ago
The $6 billion Vatican Bank was beset by scandals, disastrous investments—and ties to the Mafia. How Pope Francis tried to fix it
Banking
The $6 billion Vatican Bank was beset by scandals, disastrous investments—and ties to the Mafia. How Pope Francis tried to fix it
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 18, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.