MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA - Sobeys is riding into the future on its own invention! This week, the Canadian grocer unveiled a first-of-its-kind intelligent shopping cart, dubbed Smart Cart, which it has been hard at work on with technology expert Caper. Smart Cart is a technology-enhanced shopping cart that is innovating the consumer shopping experience by making it more engaging, fun, and speedy. The cart is also Sobeys way of minimizing lengthy in-store checkout lines.
“While products and customer eating habits have evolved, the in-store grocery shopping experience has remained relatively static for the last 100 years.” said Mathieu Lacoursiere, Vice President, Retail Support at Sobeys. “This is a unique way for us to test innovative new technologies aimed at enhancing the customer shopping experience and learn how best to make it faster and easier. The carts will also give our in-store teammates more time to interact with customers and answer questions about food and new products.”
Smart Cart is equipped with AI and machine learning technology, including multiple high-resolution cameras that capture 120 images per second as product is placed in the cart. The technology then keeps a running tally by scanning, weighing, and displaying products in the cart. The cart is particularly groundbreaking because it also serves as a check-out kiosk, allowing shoppers to pay on the spot with the cart—no waiting, no lines, just the future!
The cart’s technology also takes account of the items it is carrying without having the shopper enter any information or scan any barcodes. This, coupled with the cart’s easy-to-read screen, will eventually aid customers in navigating the store by finding the items they’re looking for based on recipes or grocery lists and the promotions available with each item.
"Sobeys is an innovative grocer with a strong focus on enhancing the shopper experience," said Ahmed Beshry, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Caper. "The Sobeys Team has incredible execution capabilities. When retailers are able to pick up a new technology and execute quickly, it creates the right environment for rapid innovation.”
Lacoursiere added, “The best Canadian brands aim to be world-class by thinking ahead and placing bets on unique innovations. We’re constantly looking for new ways to evolve the grocery shopping experience. During the Smart Cart pilot, we will engage with our customers in real time to better understand what inspires them and adds value to their shopping experience throughout the store.”
The Smart Cart is being piloted at Sobeys’ Glen Abbey location in Oakville, Ontario. Should it test successfully, will Smart Carts be rolling around grocery stores everywhere? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the future of grocery, now.
