Focal Systems

Focal Systems is the pioneering force behind the "Self-Driving Store," offering an advanced AI operating system, FocalOS, designed to revolutionize retail operations. By deploying a network of intelligent, shelf-scanning cameras and leveraging the market's most accurate computer vision, FocalOS digitizes the entire store environment in real-time. This enables the automation and optimization of critical decisions, from inventory ordering and stock replenishment to labor scheduling and planogram adjustments. The platform is engineered to deliver remarkable financial results, including the potential to double a retailer's EBITDA in the first month, while simultaneously enhancing customer experience and employee satisfaction.

The mission of Focal Systems is to lower the cost of living for everyone by making brick-and-mortar retail dramatically more efficient. By tackling inefficiencies in the supply chain, reducing food waste, and boosting productivity, FocalOS empowers retailers to lower prices for their customers and operate more sustainably.

How to use Focal Systems

Implementing the Focal Systems solution is a streamlined, three-step process designed for rapid deployment and immediate impact:

1. Shelf Digitization: Tiny, rugged, battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras are installed throughout the store overnight. These cameras scan the sales floor, backroom, and top-stock inventory every hour, creating a complete digital twin of the store's physical state. Focal Systems manages the cameras with a guaranteed >99% uptime, requiring no effort from the retail team.
2. AI-Powered Analysis: The captured images are processed by Focal's world-class computer vision AI, trained on over 2.5 billion labeled images. The AI first removes all Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to ensure privacy. It then accurately detects stock levels (in-stock, out-of-stock, low stock), misplaced items, missing price tags, and even spoiled produce.
3. Automated Operations with FocalOS: The real-time shelf data is fed into FocalOS, which integrates with sales data to run the store. The system automatically generates optimized purchase orders (AdaOrder), creates prioritized task lists for stockers (Action Tool), adapts planograms based on demand, and streamlines e-commerce fulfillment to eliminate substitutions. Management can also use the "Focal Store Walk" feature to virtually "teleport" into any store for a real-time visual check.

Core Features of Focal Systems

• Precision Ordering: AI-driven ordering system (AdaOrder) that analyzes real-time shelf data and sales trends to create highly accurate orders, drastically reducing overstock and food waste.
• Prioritized Replenishment: The Action Tool provides stockers with real-time, prioritized task lists, guiding them to the most critical out-of-stock situations first, boosting productivity by 2x to 10x.
• Adaptive Planograms: Automatically optimizes shelf space allocation for each store based on real-time changes in supply, demand, and local buying patterns.
• Adaptive E-commerce: Syncs real-time shelf availability with e-commerce platforms, virtually eliminating the need for item substitutions and improving the online shopping experience.
• Automated Management & Analytics: Measures and tracks associate productivity, task compliance, and overall store performance, providing unbiased, data-driven insights for leadership to identify top performers and areas for improvement.
• Remote Store Visualization: Allows regional and corporate leadership to virtually visit any store at any time, providing an unvarnished view of on-the-ground conditions and customer experience.

Use Cases for Focal Systems

Focal Systems is trusted by leading global retailers to drive transformation across their operations:

• Grocery and Supermarket Chains: Major retailers like Walmart Canada, Morrisons, and Piggly Wiggly use FocalOS to improve on-shelf availability, cut food waste by over 80%, and increase stocker efficiency.
• C-Suite & Retail Leadership: CEOs and executives use the platform to gain real-time, unbiased visibility into the performance of their entire chain, track KPIs, and make strategic, data-informed decisions without relying on self-reported metrics.
• Store & Department Managers: Managers leverage FocalOS to automate tedious tasks like ordering and scheduling, allowing them to focus on coaching their teams and improving the customer experience. The system provides clear data on store performance and staff productivity.
• Store Associates & Stockers: Employees use the intuitive Focal Action Tool, which makes their work easier, more efficient, and more rewarding. The system gamifies tasks and gives credit to high-performing associates, leading to higher job satisfaction.

Advantages of Focal Systems

Focal Systems delivers a comprehensive set of benefits that impact every level of a retail organization:

• Massive Financial ROI: Proven to deliver a 50x ROI by increasing sales, doubling EBITDA, and significantly reducing costs associated with labor, shrink, and waste.
• Operational Excellence: Automates core store processes, leading to a 2-10x increase in stocking speed and optimized labor allocation.
• Drastic Waste Reduction: Cuts food waste by an average of 84%, contributing to sustainability goals and reducing the retailer's carbon footprint.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Ensures higher on-shelf availability, meaning customers find the products they want, when they want them, boosting loyalty and NPS.
• Happier, More Productive Employees: Provides modern, easy-to-use tools that empower employees, recognize their contributions, and eliminate frustrating, inefficient workflows.
• Data-Driven Culture: Replaces guesswork and biased reporting with objective, real-time data, enabling a culture of transparency and continuous improvement.

Pricing and Plans

Focal Systems offers a customized enterprise solution tailored to the specific needs and scale of each retail partner. Pricing is determined based on the number of stores, the scope of the deployment, and the specific modules of FocalOS required. To receive a detailed proposal and see a live demonstration of the platform's capabilities, interested parties are encouraged to contact the Focal Systems retail experts directly through their website.