Regional grocers in Midwest and West deploy smart carts
Multiple local and independent grocers operating across eight states are adopting artificial intelligence-equipped shopping carts.
Bowman's Market, Maurer's Market IGA, Neiman's Family Market, Queen's Price Chopper and Soelbergs Market are all rolling out Caper Carts from Instacart. Caper Carts are equipped with cameras, sensors, and a built-in scale, which work together with an edge AI system to automatically recognize items as they are placed in the cart.
Once products are added, customers can watch their running cost total, similar to an online shopping cart. Caper Carts also feature an interactive screen that tracks spending, provides access to deals, and offers product recommendations based on the customer's location in the store and the carts' contents.
Integrated with retailers' existing loyalty programs, Caper Carts also allow customers to redeem personalized promotions and rewards as they shop and reward shoppers with automatic discounts, including digital coupons, as their basket value grows. When finished, customers can check out directly from the cart.
[READ MORE: Instacart adds gamification to smart cart solution]
"Introducing Instacart's Caper Carts in our stores is our way of honoring our family's legacy of exceptional customer service,” said Bryan Neiman, president and CEO of Neiman's Family Market. “These smart carts will help us create a more personalized and efficient shopping experience, allowing us to better serve the families who have been shopping with us for generations."
These grocers implementing Caper Carts operate stores across Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Other grocers utilizing the technology include Aldi, ShopRite and The Save Mart Companies.
"We're always looking for new ways to improve the shopping experience for our community and the Caper Carts are a fantastic solution," said David Cook, CFO of Bowman's. "These carts not only make it easier and faster for our customers to shop but also allow us to continue providing the friendly, hands-on service that makes our store unique."
The Caper Carts solution is part of Instacart's Connected Stores suite of technologies intended to help grocers build a unified, seamless and personalized experiences, which also includes Storefront, Carrot Ads, Eversight and Carrot Tags.
"Over the past year, we've seen a wave of innovative, independent grocers adopting Caper Carts," said Nick Nickitas, general manager, local independent grocery at Instacart. “These carts are an absolute hit with customers, helping local independent grocers solidify their place in the hearts and minds of the communities they serve."
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.
