Simbe achieves UL 3300 certification for Tally autonomous retail robot

Simbe, a global provider of retail shelf digitization, said that it is the first retail technology company to achieve UL 3300 certification, the Standard for Service, Communication, Information, Education and Entertainment Robots for Tally, its shelf-scanning autonomous mobile robot.

Simbe said that this certification independently confirms that Tally meets the requirements of the safety standard and helps set a new bar for trust and reliability in enterprise-grade robotics.

Safety standards in human-facing robots 

UL 3300 establishes stringent requirements for mechanical, electrical and software systems in dynamic, public-facing environments. The standard is also included in OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program list of appropriate test standards, helping organizations align autonomous robot deployments with recognized workplace safety expectations.

The company said that it earned this certification after Tally and its charging dock underwent extensive third-party testing. Simbe said that this achievement positions the company as the first retail technology provider to independently certify its robots for public use. For retailers, Simbe said that the certification helps demonstrate that autonomous mobile robots can operate safely alongside shoppers and store associates, empowering teams to deliver the service and experiences that makes their stores shoppers' favorite destination. 

"Since 2015, we've designed Tally to earn trust from shoppers navigating aisles, store teams working alongside it, and the retailers deploying it at scale," said Jeff Gee, chief design officer at Simbe. "This UL 3300 certification confirms what our retail partners, their store teams and customers experience daily: Tally is retail's favorite robot because it operates safely in the real world. This milestone reflects our commitment to people-first automation."

Validated for real-world retail environments

As part of the UL 3300 evaluation, Simbe said that Tally successfully passed over 40 safety tests, validating its ability to operate safely and reliably in retail settings. Key areas evaluated include:

• Safe navigation around people: Real-time detection and protective stopping enable operation in dynamic aisles alongside shoppers and store teams.

• Functional safety of control systems: Functions verified across multiple safety classes using established methodologies aligned with ISO 13849-1:2023.
• Public-space mechanical and charging safety: Designed for consumer-facing environments with safeguards for all movement and charging.
• Store stability and real-world handling: Validated with common retail flooring and fixtures to deliver stable, reliable performance daily.
• Electrical, battery, charging and EMC resilience: Electrical and power systems engineered for safe and dependable store operations.

"UL 3300 certification addresses the unique safety requirements of robots operating in public environments with constant human interaction," said Sherry He, vice president and general manager of Consumer, Medical and Information Technologies at UL Solutions. "Simbe's achievement as the first retail robotics company to earn this certification demonstrates its leadership in advancing responsible deployment. This independent validation provides retailers, store teams, and shoppers with confidence that Tally meets the highest standards for safe operation in dynamic store environments."

Simbe deployments across multiple retail environments  

As retailers modernize, Simbe said that its UL 3300 certification signals that autonomous retail technology has again proven itself as safer infrastructure.

Store teams often spend significant time on manual inventory checks, work that is time-consuming and difficult to execute consistently. Simbe said it is transforming how people shop, work and sell in retail by automating these repetitive tasks with Tally, in conjunction with the insights delivered through Simbe's Store Intelligence platform.

In 2025, Simbe announced pilots or deployments at Harmon’s grocery stores, HomeBase USA and Simbe, DeCicco & Sons grocery chain.