Nearly six years ago Walmart sent 500 shelf-scanning robots home after concluding that workers picking online orders could see the
Conversations On Retail
July 20, 2026
The Past, Present, & Future of Robotics In Retail
Join Mike Graen for his conversation with Sarjoun Skaff, Co-Founder and CEO of Bossa Nova Robotics, about the past, present, and future for robotics in retail.
About Sarjoun Skaff
Sarjoun is a technology entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in operationalizing robotics and AI. He is the cofounder and CEO of Bossa Nova, a company that pioneered the automation of on-shelf inventory management through the deployment of autonomous robots and cloud AI in retail stores.
Bossa Nova’s automated inventory solution comprised the deployment of robots in 600 Walmart Supercenters, where they scanned shelves daily to increase inventory accuracy, and guided associates in restocking missing items to increase sales. This was a seven year effort that comprised raising $120M of venture capital and building a 230 employee-strong operation that delivered fundamental innovation and technical and operational excellence.
About Mike Graen
With 40 years of experience working for Procter & Gamble, Walmart, and CROSSMARK, Mike Graen has seen the retail industry from every conceivable angle. From helping develop what would become Retail Link to investigating and leveraging the potential of shelf-scanning robots and RFID tech in stores, Graen has made a career out of using technology to solve business problems.
Series Sponsors
The On-Shelf Availability Series is presented by the Department of Supply Chain Management at the University of Arkansas, and proudly sponsored by:
Conversations On Retail
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