By Rachel Williams
Copyright dailyrecord
The way we shop has drastically changed over the years. Now Morrisons is set to introduce a major change to its trolleys that will help customers to save some money . Early next year, the supermarket chain will be trialling new AI-powered smart trolleys in one of its stores, although the location is yet to be confirmed, before potentially being rolled out across the UK. Launched in partnership with US-based firm Instacart, these smart trolleys will allow customers to keep a track of their shopping costs in real-time by scanning barcodes on products. They also help guide with placing and weighing individual products through the use of high-tech features including interactive screens, built-in scales and AI-powered sensors, reports the Grocery Gazette . To complete the purchase, all shoppers need to do is simply scan the barcode on the trolley’s screen when they are at one of Morrisons’ self-service checkouts. Morrisons isn’t the first UK supermarket to embrace artificial intelligence to improve the shopping experience, as we previously reported that Waitrose was running a similar trial at its site in Bracknell, Berkshire. Said to have marked the first time that smart carts of this technology had been trialled by a UK supermarket, Waitrose’s tech consisted of a handle-bar device that worked in a similar way to its ScanPayGo Headsets. Meanwhile, other supermarkets have been embracing new high-tech features such as Co-op’s electronic shelf edging that allows customers to join its loyalty scheme by simply tapping labels with their smartphone. Over at Sainsbury’s and Tesco, cameras at self-service checkouts use AI to determine whether a product has been scanned or not, with the measure said to help with the surge in shoplifting. Gordon Macpherson, productivity director of Morrisons said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to bring innovation to the weekly shop to enhance the experience for our customers, and the cutting-edge technology of Caper Carts brings the best of digital and physical retail together in-store. “We’re excited about bringing the first fully integrated AI-powered trolleys in the UK to a first store soon and look forward to testing customer response and building understanding of how the technology works within the Morrisons store estate.” David McIntosh, chief connected stores officer at Instacart added: “As we continue to expand internationally, we’re thrilled to partner with Morrisons to bring Caper Carts to the UK for the first time. “Retailers like Morrisons are transforming the in-store shopping experience with new technologies such as Caper Carts that help customers shop faster, easier and in more inspiring ways while deepening loyalty along the way.” News of Morrisons’ smart trolley trial comes just after the supermarket announced a major change to the prices of hundreds of products to help out with the pre-Christmas spending. As of Monday, September 8, the grocer slashed 18 percent of the cost of 650 popular groceries and household essentials . The price cuts will remain in place for at least four to eight weeks, allowing households to help cut back on costs and stick to a budget in the build-up to the expensive festive period.
