Wegmans pilots AI-equipped smart carts
Wegmans Food Markets is testing Instacart Caper Cart smart carts at a store in Syracuse, N.Y.
This marks the first deployment of Caper Carts at Wegmans, as part of an initial in-store program offering customers a smarter, more seamless way to shop in-store. Part of the Instacart Connected Stores platform, Caper Carts are equipped with cameras, a built-in scale, and location sensors connected to Nvidia Jetson hardware 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.
Wegmans customers can log in to their Shoppers Club loyalty account on the cart's screen in order to shop with a Caper Cart. When finished, customers can check out directly from the cart. A number of other regional U.S. grocers, including Midwest chain Schnucks, also use Caper Carts, as well as national chains such as Aldi.
[READ MORE: Aldi expands Instacart partnership with smart carts, seamless shopping]
"Caper Carts are transforming everyday grocery shopping into a faster, more personalized experience," said David McIntosh, chief connected stores officer at Instacart. "We're excited to partner with Wegmans – known for their exceptional customer and in-store experience – to bring this technology to their store. Together, we're delivering customers a delightful and personalized shopping journey."
Wegmans first partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery in 2017, and has since expanded the partnership to include pickup, EBT/SNAP acceptance, loyalty program integration and more.
Wegmans streamlines in-store shopping with app features
Wegmans recently enhanced its mobile app to offer a better connected in-store shopping experience. The enhancements include artificial intelligence-based personalized search and product recommendations. In addition, a new "Get It" tab shows items left to shop, while a “Got It” tab shows what customers have checked off.
In addition, a "My Items" feature lets customers edit and filter suggested products, add custom items, and save, share, and print lists. In-store shopping lists are sorted based on the selected store’s layout and include enhanced aisle locations. The app automatically switches users to the store they are in.
Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., Wegmans Food Markets Inc. is a regional supermarket chain with 112 stores located along the East Coast. Based in San Francisco, Instacart partners with more than 1,800 national, regional and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 100,000 stores across North America.
