UL Solutions Grants First Global Safety Certification for Public-Environment Robot to Simbe’s Tally

13 March 2026 | News

Simbe’s autonomous shelf-scanning robot becomes the first to earn UL 3300 certification, validating safe operation in dynamic public spaces such as retail store aisles.
Image Courtesy: Public Domain

Image Courtesy: Public Domain

  • UL Solutions issued its first-ever global safety certification for a robot operating in a public environment.
  • UL Certification of robots helps demonstrate that they can safely navigate around people in dynamic, real-world spaces.
  • As the use of robots rapidly expands into public spaces, from grocery stores and hotels to airports and deliveries using public sidewalks, this certification highlights the importance of thorough testing to support safe deployment.

UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, announced that it has granted its first safety certification for a robot designed to operate in public environments to Simbe’s Tally, an autonomous shelf-scanning robot.

Tally earned certification to UL 3300, the Standard for Service, Communication, Information, Education and Entertainment (SCIEE) Robots. The robot and its charging dock underwent extensive evaluation, including testing for fire and electric shock hazards and safe autonomous mobility. UL 3300 focuses on safe operation in dynamic, real‑world environments where robots may encounter unpredictable human behavior.

With this certification, Simbe, a global leader in store shelf digitization and store intelligence, becomes the first company to receive independent safety certification from UL Solutions for its autonomous mobile robot for public use. The certification demonstrates that Tally can operate safely in active store aisles while supporting employees with operational and customer experience tasks.

“Robots that move around and work in places full of people, like grocery stores or shopping aisles, need to meet a very different level of safety,” said Sherry He, vice president and general manager of Consumer, Medical and Information Technologies at UL Solutions. “UL Certification helps give everyone in the store, from employees to shoppers, peace of mind that Tally operates safely, even in busy, dynamic environments.”

According to the International Federation of Robotics, the domestic and professional service robot sector continues to experience strong global growth, driven by rising adoption across both consumer and enterprise applications. These robots are deployed in grocery stores, restaurants, airports, hotels, banks and shopping centers, operating in spaces that require reliable safety performance.

In addition, U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently added UL 3300 to the list of safety certification standards recognized in meeting OSHA workplace safety regulations.

“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, Simbe’s chief design officer. “This UL Certification confirms what our retail partners, their teams and their customers see every day that Tally elevates the in-store operating safely in stores. It’s an important milestone that underscores our commitment to automation that puts people first.”

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