Doubling Down on Shelf Intelligence: A Conversation with Anne Mezzenga

Q (Caitlin): You’ve worked across retail innovation, from Target to advising startups. What’s energizing you most right now?

A (Anne): What energizes me most is how retail technology is improving the lives of store associates. The majority of Americans have worked in retail at some point in their lives, and these are hard jobs. I love seeing technology reduce repetitive work and let people focus on what really matters.

There’s a growing awareness that it’s not just about the ROI. It’s also about creating better experiences for the people running our stores. When I see solutions like Simbe that prioritize that human side of retail, it’s incredibly exciting.

Q: What stands out to you about Simbe’s approach to retail technology?

A (Anne): One of the things I’ve loved about Simbe is how much emphasis you place on getting in the stores and using that feedback loop with store teams to really improve the technology.

I like being part of it because I get the chance to see what’s most challenging for people coming in to work every day and what could quickly improve their experience.

“One of the things I’ve loved about Simbe is how much emphasis you place on getting in the stores and using that feedback loop with store teams to really improve the technology.”

Q: Are there any milestones or shifts you're seeing that are driving the realization of why in-store intelligence is becoming necessary?

A (Anne): Absolutely, and one of the biggest is how quickly store formats are changing. We were just at the SpartanNash conference in Grand Rapids, and even some of the most rural, family-owned retailers—stores with just 10 locations—are adapting. They're investing in tech like shelf intelligence because they need real-time insight into what customers are gravitating toward, not just what they’re buying.

We’ve had POS data for decades, but now we can start to understand what happens when a shopper picks something up, puts it back, and chooses something else. That kind of behavioral signal is something we’re used to getting online, but we’ve never really had that visibility in physical stores. Shelf data provides that fourth critical pillar, alongside POS, supply chain, and consumer engagement. And it’s not just valuable for the retailers, it empowers suppliers, supports store teams, and strengthens the entire retail ecosystem.

You just can’t compete today with delayed data. In many cases, what’s on-shelf has been a month behind, and by then it’s too late. Especially with labor shortages, there’s no way to manually keep up. Shelf intelligence fills that gap.

“You can’t run AI, you can’t run automation, you can’t run retail media without good shelf data.”

Q: Where do you think shelf intelligence will have the biggest impact next?

A (Anne): I think we’re going to see retailers start using this data to fuel more cross functional collaboration. It’s not just store ops—marketing, e-commerce, planning—they all stand to benefit.

What’s really exciting is that midsize and regional retailers may leapfrog here. They’re more nimble. You don’t need a five-year roadmap to get started. You need the right partners and the ability to test, learn, and scale quickly.

Q: Why did you choose to join Simbe’s Strategic Advisory Board?

A (Anne): It started with the people. Everyone I’ve worked with at Simbe, from leadership to engineering, cares deeply about solving real problems in retail. There’s no ego. It’s all about listening, learning from store teams, and continuously improving the technology. That collaborative spirit really stood out.

But the moment that truly sealed it for me was visiting a Schnucks store in St. Louis and seeing Tally in action. Right when I walked in, I saw the robot roaming through the bakery and a little kid lighting up with excitement. It brought me back to when my kids were young, and we’d pick our grocery store based on which one had the race car cart. That spark of joy, that emotional connection really stuck with me. Then I spent time on the floor with the Schnucks team and saw just how well the tech was working. Tally wasn’t just deployed, it was delivering real value, with impressive accuracy, and freeing up store teams to focus on customers.

Toward the end of the visit, I watched the store manager spend 15 minutes helping an older woman find a product, chatting with her along the way. That kind of human connection is what keeps people coming back to stores. And it was only possible because the operational tasks were already handled. That whole experience made it clear, this isn’t just great technology. It’s thoughtful, it works, and it’s making retail better. I knew I wanted to be part of it.

“Seeing Tally sealed the deal for me. I knew I wanted to be part of what the Schnucks and Simbe teams had built. It was a very magical experience.”

Q: If you could give retail leaders one message about why now is the moment for robots and shelf intelligence, what would it be?

A (Anne): This is the year for retailers to double down on shelf intelligence. It’s no longer a “nice to have”, it’s the data foundation that powers so many other investments in your store.

Shelf intelligence provides a single source of truth. It helps improve store operations, strengthens relationships with brand partners, and supports new revenue streams like retail media. And most importantly, it helps ensure your customers leave the store with the item they came to get, which is at the heart of why people still choose to shop in person. And there's nothing else as powerful as shelf intelligence technology that is allowing you as a retailer to do that.