人工執行任務更多
US retail giant Walmart recently ended its contract with Bossa Nova Robotics, a startup with which it partnered to bring shelf-scanning robots to stores. The retailer later found that human workers can manage the same job just as well.
美國零售超市巨頭沃爾瑪（Walmart）最近結束與機器人公司Bossa Nova的合約，先前沃爾瑪曾經與該新創公司合作在賣場導入貨架掃描機器人，不過沃爾瑪後來發現，人工也可以和機器人做得一樣好。
end=terminate終止partner with…與…合作、結盟manage(v.)成功做到，順利完成(尤指困難之事)
Walmart has for years invested in adding more technology to its stores. The partnership with Bossa Nova started in 2017.
多年來沃爾瑪不斷投資在其賣場導入更多的科技，與Bossa Nova的合作夥伴關係始於2017年。
has V.pp現在完成式invest (時間或金錢) in sth.投資partnership(n.)合作關係
These robots moved around store aisles and scanned shelves to keep track of the inventory.
貨架掃描機器人在貨架間移動並掃描貨架，追蹤庫存情況。
aisle(n.)(客機、電影院)走道、(商店貨架間的)通道keep track of 追蹤、記錄
The company hoped that the technology could reduce labor costs and increase sales by ensuring that goods are always in stock.
沃爾瑪原本希望這項技術降低人工成本，並透過確保庫存量充足以增加銷量。
labor costs人力成本ensure(v.)確保=make surein stock 有庫存out of stock沒貨了、缺貨
During the Covid-19 pandemic, as more customers favor online shopping over going into physical stores, the company had more workers to walk the aisles frequently, updating inventory and fulfilling orders.
在新冠疫情期間，由於更多的顧客偏好線上購物勝過造訪實體商店，沃爾瑪有更多的員工在貨架間巡邏，隨時更新庫存和出貨。
favor(v.)偏好、支持、贊同physical stores實體店面=brick-and-mortar stores實體店面inventory(n.)存貨、盤點、清點存貨fulfill orders履行訂單、出貨
This turned out to be a more cost-effective way to manage inventory since human workers can perform more tasks than robots.
事實證明，這種庫存管理方式更具成本效益，因為人工能執行的任務比機器人更多。
turn out to be…結果竟然…cost-effective(adj.)符合成本效益的;合算的;划算的perform(v.)執行=carry out
The company also has concerns about how customers may react to seeing robots working in a store.
沃爾瑪也擔心客人若看到機器人在賣場工作可能會有的反應。
react to…對…有反應
At the time when Walmart pulled the plug on the contract, the Bossa Nova robots appeared in around 500 of Walmart’s stores.
當沃爾瑪決定中止合約時，旗下約有500家賣場使用Bossa Nova的機器人。
pull the plug on終止=end=terminate
The start-up had to lay off 50% of its staff as a result of the end of the contract, but this is likely only a temporary setback for the robotics industry.
與沃爾瑪的合約終止後，Bossa Nova不得不裁員50％，但這對機器人產業來說可能只是暫時性的挫折。
lay off 解僱;資遣=dismissas a result of…因為…的緣故setback(n.)挫折、障礙=obstaclerobotics(n.)機器人學;機器人產業
The greatest benefit of robots lies in real-time data on products and customer behavior.
機器人最大的優勢在於提供產品和顧客行為的即時數據。
lie in…存在於;在於…=consist inHappiness lies in contentment.知足常樂real-time(電腦系統)即時處理的;實時的
As robots scan shelves, they can detect unexpected changes in inventory to avoid both running out-of-stock and customers’ disappointment. The robots’ insights can still be extremely valuable for the retail industry.
當機器人掃描貨架時，可以偵測到意外的庫存變化，避免缺貨和讓客戶失望，機器人的洞察力對零售業而言仍是非常有價值的。
detect(v.)(通常指用特別設備)探測;檢測;測出insight(n.)洞察力;深刻見解