Scandit, a global leader in smart data capture, has announced the acquisition of shelf audit automation technology from MarketLab, a Polish company specialising in image recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) software for the retail industry. The deal also sees MarketLab’s expert team joining Scandit, further strengthening the company’s capabilities in retail data capture.
MarketLab’s technology, which focuses on fixed camera solutions, will be integrated with Scandit’s existing ShelfView mobile capture approach. This strategic acquisition aims to create a hybrid data capture solution that addresses the retail sector’s pressing challenge of on-shelf availability, a problem estimated to cost the industry around $634 billion annually, according to research by IHL Group.
The newly combined solution will provide retailers with comprehensive insights into on-shelf availability, planogram compliance, and pricing issues, helping to optimise store conditions, increase sales, and minimise revenue losses due to stockouts. The hybrid system leverages both mobile capture—through smartphones or handheld computers—and fixed cameras, offering continuous, high-frequency data capture for near-real-time shelf monitoring. This frees up store associates to focus on higher-value tasks, such as customer engagement.
Samuel Mueller, CEO and co-founder of Scandit, hailed the acquisition as a significant step forward for the company. “This acquisition marks a new milestone in Scandit’s evolution as we broaden our smart data capture capabilities for the retail industry. By integrating MarketLab’s fixed camera-based shelf recognition expertise into ShelfView, we are enhancing our ability to empower retailers to boost store performance, improve associate efficiency, and optimise the monetisation of shelf data with consumer packaged goods (CPG) partners.”
Piotr Wardaszko, CEO of MarketLab, echoed this sentiment, expressing enthusiasm for the collaboration. “We are delighted to join forces with Scandit. By combining our complementary technologies, we look forward to delivering additional value, return on investment, and insights to grocery retailers globally. This partnership will enhance visibility into shelf conditions, ensure accurate stock availability, and ultimately improve the customer experience.”
Scandit’s ShelfView solution, which already employs advanced computer vision technology, object recognition, and augmented reality, will now benefit from the added capabilities of MarketLab’s fixed camera solutions. This integration is expected to deliver unprecedented accuracy in alerting retailers to rapidly changing shelf conditions, with Scandit’s AI and machine learning capabilities ensuring a 99.7% alert accuracy rate.
The acquisition also positions Scandit for further growth, particularly within the retail sector, where the company already serves eight of the top ten US grocers. MarketLab’s existing client base, including Carrefour Poland, will further bolster Scandit’s market presence. Beyond retail, Scandit sees potential for applying fixed camera technology in other environments, such as warehousing, to automate logistics workflows.
This acquisition follows Scandit’s $150 million Series D investment in 2022, which has accelerated the company’s research and development efforts, particularly in AI and machine learning. Recent product developments, such as ID Validate, ID Bolt, and MatrixScan Find, reflect Scandit’s ongoing commitment to innovation in smart data capture technology.
As Scandit continues to expand its capabilities, the integration of MarketLab’s technology signals a new phase of growth and underscores its position as a leader in smart data capture solutions.