Aldi expands Instacart partnership with smart carts, seamless shopping
Aldi is deploying new omnichannel Instacart technology in U.S. stores and testing smart carts in Europe.
The fast-growing discount grocer began offering online delivery in the U.S. via Instacart in 2017 and has since added new Instacart-based solutions such as Aldi Express, a virtual convenience store supported by the grocery technology company.
Now, Aldi is rolling out Instacart Caper Carts across its U.S. stores, and also piloting the smart cart technology in Austria. Caper Carts feature an interactive screen to engage customers, track spending, provide direct access to coupons and deals through a loyalty program, and enable shoppers to check out from wherever they are in the store.
They also deliver personalized recommendations as customers shop and gamification elements that reward consumers once a spending threshold is achieved.
In addition, Aldi is rolling out several Instacart Connected Stores solutions, a a suite of echnologies intended to help grocers build a unified, seamless and personalized experience. These include:
In-store mode: This feature helps customers see what’s in-stock, get details about items on their list, sort items by aisle, and access in-store promotions and discounts through the Instacart app. For retailers, in-store mode helps provide a 360-degree view of customers across channels.
Carrot tags: These electronic shelf tags have pick-to-light capabilities enabling Instacart shoppers can select an item on their phone and the corresponding shelf label will flash. Carrot tags have already launched in more than 100 Aldi stores in Illinois and Ohio and will roll out nationwide in the coming months.
Pickup fulfillment: Store associates now pick and pack items for curbside pickup by customers using Instacart technology.
In other efforts to streamline store shopping and checkout, in April 2024 the grocer retrofitted a suburban Chicago location with a cashier-free checkout experience it calls "ALDIgo." Aldi implemented a Grabango frictionless shopping solution in an existing store in Aurora, Ill.
"By integrating Instacart’s Connected Stores technologies nationwide, we are creating a seamless shopping journey for the millions of customers that shop with us every day," said Scott Patton, VP of national buying at Aldi U.S. "Whether shopping online, through mobile app, or visiting our stores, customers can manage their weekly grocery shopping through multiple touchpoints both quickly and affordably."
"Retailers like Aldi value Instacart’s omnichannel solutions, which help them provide even more personalized and convenient shopping experiences for their customers," said David McIntosh, VP and GM of connected stores at Instacart. "With a large portion of customers preferring a blend of in-store and online experiences, Aldi is enabling the best of both worlds to its customers through our technologies.
"We’re thrilled that Aldi is the first retailer to test Caper Carts in Europe, enabling us to bring Instacart’s leading grocery technology to the region for the first time," said McIntosh. "Since launching Caper Carts with other retailers in the U.S., we’ve seen an incredibly positive response from customers of all ages and we’re excited to begin scaling globally."
Aldi operates more than 7,200 store locations around the world, including more than 2,200 stores in 38 U.S. states with over 45,000 associates.
Based in San Francisco, Instacart partners with more than 1,500 national, regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across North America.
