Wegmans, a popular grocery chain, is piloting a new shopping system aimed at replacing its discontinued self-checkout app, SCAN. The grocer is testing Shopic, an artificial intelligence-powered “frictionless” shopping system in stores in the Buffalo and Rochester areas.
The system consists of a rectangular device that attaches to the top of a shopping cart and has a long bar equipped with cameras and sensors. As customers shop, the computer identifies and logs each product, giving a running price total and making adjustments as products are removed.
“We recently selected customers to test the new technology as we take an iterative approach and focus on gathering feedback from a small group of customers,” said Michele Mehaffy, a Wegmans spokesperson.
Shopic, an Israeli start-up, claims the technology can help with inventory out-of-stocks and supply chain issues, increase sales through personalized on-screen advertising, reduce labor costs and track shopper preferences. However, the Smart Shopping Cart technology is still in its early stages and does not yet have heat mapping or the ability to scan multiple items at once.
Wegmans discontinued its SCAN app due to a high theft rate, and the Smart Shopping Cart system is expected to solve the issue by preventing shoplifting.
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