SPAR tests robot Tally: The future of shopping in Eisenstadt and Vienna!

SPAR tests robot Tally: The future of shopping in Eisenstadt and Vienna!

SPAR started using a robot in two of its stores on July 1, 2025. The robot, called “Tally”, is almost two meters tall and is being tested in an Interspar in Eisenstadt and in a Eurospar in Vienna. His main job is to scan the shelves and check whether there is enough stock. Loud 5min.at The introduction of Tally aims to relieve employees and improve the shopping experience for customers.

Tally is used several times a day in supermarkets, creating inventory reports that are sent to employees by email. The test phase is scheduled to last five months. In the first four weeks, the robot will get to know the market environment before full deployment begins in mid-August. During peak hours, Tally will not be active to avoid disrupting customer flow.

Technical details and safety

The robot is equipped with cameras that automatically delete images of people walking in front of the camera. However, Tally does not interact with the customers as he cannot speak. These features are intended to ensure that the robot works efficiently without interfering with purchasing.
After evaluating the collected data, a decision will be made as to whether the test phase will be extended or expanded.

The trend towards automation in retail is not only evident at SPAR. In other supermarkets, robots actively help customers search for products. An example is a Rewe store where customers can use a touchpad to tell the robot what product they are looking for. The robot then leads them to the shelf. Market manager Lars Gilke describes these robots as friendly and active. However, these developments also point to challenges. Professor Stephan Rüschen from the DHBW sees such robots as “at most a gimmick” and warns that they could get in the way during peak times, which could hinder shopping daily news reported.

Retail efficiency through AI

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in retail aims to achieve efficiency, automation and a personalized shopping experience. Inventory management and sales optimization use sensors, cameras and algorithms to capture inventory and sales data in real time. These technologies help ensure product availability and increase customer satisfaction, which is achieved through our third source Food Innovation Camp is underlined.

The German Trade Association (HDE) sees robotics as a potential help for staff shortages, but has no concrete figures on its use. While the number of self-checkout lanes in Germany skyrocketed from 2021 to 2023, the traditional supermarket with human staff remains the dominant model. According to Rüschen, full automation of large supermarkets is unrealistic, which highlights the challenges and complexity of the industry.

However, in a rapidly changing retail environment, such tests of robots like Tally are a clear indication of the trend towards automation and the use of AI to meet the needs of an increasingly digitalized world.