Selver Deploys 11 Cleaning Robots, Says Staff Aren’t Being Replaced

Estonia’s major supermarket chain Selver deployed 11 autonomous cleaning robots from Gausium. The rollout includes two different models, each matched to a specific store size. When a cleaning route is complete, each robot returns to recharge on its own before starting the next run. 

The Omnie handles large hypermarket floors, while the Phantas operates in smaller stores. Selver plans to add 4 more Omnie units and 21 more Phantas-line robots by next year. This would bring the total fleet to 36. 

It is not immediately clear from the statement if the rollout is limited to one retailer or the start of a broader trend in retail automation across the region. The long-term operational savings are yet to be verified.

Before the rollout, the robots went through a rigorous pilot at five Selver stores at the beginning of the year, during the winter season. According to Gausium, a successful pilot in the challenging conditions proved that the robots handled the workload consistently and reliably.

Another thing the pilot confirmed was that the robots were well received by customers who were pleased by the Estonian-speaking robot. The biggest fans, however, are Slever’s workers, according to the statement. The employees are freed from repetitive and physically demanding cleaning tasks to continue with cleaning of shelf edges, shopping baskets, carts, and other high-touch surfaces where the robots can’t reach. 

The retail company was quoted as saying, “The robot doesn’t replace cleaning staff or take anyone’s job. On the contrary—it helps us work smarter and gives employees more time for the tasks where the human contribution matters most.”

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Slever insists that this as a tool to empower staff, not replace them. The demand for cleaning robots becomes even more apparent in settings such as supermarkets where there is high foot traffic and long opening hours. Especially in Estonia’s wet winter months ushering in the muddy season, adding pressure on cleaning teams. This is why Selver decided to deploy robots to take over the repetitive and time-consuming task of scrubbing dirty floors safely in busy public areas.

The next phase will show if the plan to scale to 36 units comes from genuine operational efficiency or a one-off PR-friendly pilot.