For FMCG brands, the gap between collecting field data and acting on it has always been the real problem. Photos would be taken, reports compiled, and by the time issues reached the right desk, the opportunity to fix them had often passed.

AI Image Recognition is changing that dynamic. Rather than waiting for data to be processed and reviewed, brands can now get shelf insights within seconds of a photo being taken and take corrective action before leaving the store.

Through its partnership with Repsly, BusinessPod is helping FMCG brands and merchandising teams across South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom deploy AI Image Recognition as part of their retail execution strategy.

Introducing ShelfScan

Repsly's AI Image Recognition capability is called ShelfScan, and it operates directly through the Repsly mobile app, fitting naturally into a field representative's existing workflow. When a rep arrives at a store, they capture shelf photos using the ShelfScan function, and from there, the AI does the analysis.

ShelfScan offers two modes of operation:

ShelfAssist delivers real-time results within 60 seconds of photo submission. Representatives receive instant feedback on out-of-stock issues and compliance gaps, enabling them to act before leaving the store rather than flagging problems for a later visit.

ShelfAnalytics processes the same photos to produce advanced reporting metrics — shelf share, planogram compliance, pricing accuracy, promotional execution, and competitor activity — delivered to management dashboards within 24 hours.

Together, these two capabilities give brands both immediate in-store action and strategic leadership visibility from the same set of photos.

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What ShelfScan Identifies

By automatically analysing shelf photos, ShelfScan gives sales, merchandising, and operations teams real-time visibility into:

• Out-of-stock products
• Pricing discrepancies
• Planogram compliance
• Missing or incorrect promotional materials
• Competitor activity and shelf share
• Gaps in product availability

The result is that managers no longer need to wait days for field reports to be consolidated. Execution data is available almost immediately, allowing teams to respond before issues translate into lost sales.

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Results From the Field: Kenvue

The impact of ShelfScan is already well-documented by global brands that have adopted the technology.

For Kenvue, one of the world's leading consumer health companies, AI Image Recognition fundamentally changed the scale and efficiency of their field operations. Darren Thompson, AMET Distribution Manager Lead at Kenvue — responsible for field execution across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe — described the results as transformational.

More store visits. Less time per visit. No additional headcount. That outcome reflects what becomes possible when AI handles the data collection and analysis that previously consumed a significant portion of every store call.

What Our Customers Are Reporting

Across businesses using ShelfScan, here is what our customers are telling us:

A 50% increase in field team productivity — representatives are spending less time on manual auditing and more time completing value-adding in-store activities.

98% inventory accuracy — our customers attribute this to ShelfScan's SKU recognition capability, which significantly reduces the risk of human error at shelf level.

40% year-on-year sales growth in ShelfScan-enabled stores compared to non-enabled stores within the same business — driven by better inventory management and more consistent order capture.

These are not projected outcomes. They are results our customers are experiencing and reporting back to us  and they make a compelling commercial case for AI Image Recognition that goes well beyond operational savings and into measurable revenue impact.

A Technology Whose Time Has Come

"Retail execution teams have always collected large amounts of store data, but AI Image Recognition allows brands to shift from collecting information to acting on it faster," says Duncan Boustead, Sales Director at BusinessPod. "Instead of spending hours reviewing photos and reports, teams can identify issues immediately, prioritise corrective actions, and ensure stores are meeting execution standards consistently."

As AI Image Recognition continues to mature, it is rapidly becoming a standard capability for FMCG brands and suppliers that need to compete effectively at the point of sale. BusinessPod, the official regional partner for Repsly across South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, continues to work with brands, distributors, and merchandising teams across South Africa and beyond to help them implement ShelfScan and convert shelf data into meaningful business outcomes.

About Repsly

Repsly is a retail execution platform that helps FMCG brands, suppliers and distributors improve visibility into field team activities, store execution and promotional compliance. The platform enables organisations to capture real-time data, optimise field operations and improve retail performance through actionable insights.

For more information visit: za.repsly.com
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