Wegmans is rolling out a new pilot program to test smart shopping cart technology at several of its stores in New York, aiming to modernize the grocery shopping experience and evaluate how well the innovation aligns with customer needs.
Where Wegmans is testing smart carts
According to a statement from the Rochester-based grocery chain, four stores are currently or will soon be participating in the pilot:
- 6600 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Perinton
- 3195 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford
- 675 Alberta Drive, Amherst (Erie County)
- 6789 East Genesee Street, DeWitt (near Syracuse) — launching later this month
The Perinton and Pittsford locations appear to be using smart carts from the same provider. The carts feature touchscreens that let shoppers scan items as they shop, streamlining the self-checkout process.
How the carts work
The smart carts use built-in screens and, in some cases, cameras and sensors to identify products as they’re added or removed. This technology allows customers to:
- Scan items as they go
- Track their spending in real time
- Skip traditional checkout lines
Wegmans emphasized that the test is limited to these four locations as it collects customer feedback to refine the experience. “Our goal is to determine if Smart Cart Technology is a fit for the unique shopping assortment offered in our stores and if it meets the shopping needs of our customers,” the company stated.
Not Wegmans’ first tech test
Wegmans has a history of experimenting with in-store tech:
- In 2023, the company tested AI-powered clip-on devices—tablets with cameras—that attached to standard carts to track items automatically.
- In 2022, it shut down its popular SCAN app, which had allowed customers to use smartphones for self-checkout. The decision came after mounting losses due to unscanned items.
What’s next?
The smart cart pilot represents Wegmans’ latest attempt to strike the right balance between convenience and loss prevention. If customer feedback is positive and the technology proves reliable, a broader rollout could follow.
For now, customers at the selected locations can try out the new carts and share their experience with store teams.
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