Kroger Seeking to Improve Customer Pickup

Semi automation of customer pickup interaction and satisfaction.

Will electronic carts help Kroger fulfill curbside pickup orders more quickly?  by Matthew Stern in Retailwire

Kroger is introducing a temperature-controlled electronic cart to speed up its curbside fulfillment.

The cart, called the BrightDrop Trace Grocery cart, was originally piloted in Kroger stores in Lexington and Versailles, KY, and is marked for a broader rollout since the pilot yielded a noticeable improvement in both customer and associate experience, according to the Detroit News.

The cart is fitted with nine secure, temperature controlled drawers in which employees can stock grocery orders before wheeling the cart to the curb. It is mechanized to allow an employee to easily pull 350 pounds of groceries at a comfortable walking pace. The next wave of the rollout will be limited, but the companies expect wide-scale availability of the cart by 2024.

Curbside pickup experienced an unprecedented spike in adoption at the beginning of the novel coronavirus pandemic as government regulations limited in-store shopping and concerns about potentially contracting COVID-19 kept shoppers out of stores. ,,,  ' 

Once Again: Smart Shopping Carts

 Experimented with similar approaches in the 90s in our retail labs.   Will it work now?  Still needs a really clear reason to play.

Will smart shopping carts transform the shopping experience at Albertsons?  In Retailwire by George Anderson

Customers at a few dozen stores owned by Albertsons will have the option of using smart shopping carts that allow them to pick products and walk out of the store without having to stop at a checkout.

The grocery giant in November first tested the carts at two of its stores located in California and Idaho, reports CNBC. The decision to scale the pilot was based on results at those locations.

The carts, manufactured by Veeve, a retail tech startup founded by two former Amazon execs, “offer a sophisticated, yet simple self-checkout experience for people who value flexibility and time savings,” Alyse Wuson, senior director of omni experiences at Albertsons, said in a statement. “Our goal is to enhance the grocery experience no matter how our guests choose to shop, and Veeve’s technology brings the ease and integration of e-commerce right to the grocery cart.”

Albertsons is not alone in testing whether the high costs of smart carts can be justified by consumer usage in stores.

Instacart last October acquired Caper AI, a startup whose smart shopping tech has been tested by Kroger, Sobey’s and Wakefern. The delivery service’s CEO Fidji Simo said of the deal, “We’re focused on creating even more ways for retailers to develop unified commerce offerings that help address consumer needs across both online and in-store shopping.”

Amazon in 2020 introduced its Dash Cart to help customers with smaller orders (two bags) check out their purchases without having to stop at a register. Albertsons has been engaged in a number of omnichannel initiatives in recent years with the goal of meeting its customers where and when they want to shop.

The grocer launched FreshPass, an Amazon Prime-like subscription service, that offers members unlimited free deliveries on orders of $30 or more. FreshPass members either pay $99 a year or $12.99 a month.

The supermarket chain operator has expanded its use of micro-fulfillment centers for online orders as well as in-store robots, automated grocery pickup kiosks and other new omnichannel technologies. Albertsons, last September, announced that it had entered into a deal with a video platform to engage customers through shoppable cooking videos on its  .... ' 

Shopic Carts Get More Funding

 We tested a number of such Smart Cart Ideas.  Lost most interest in the 90s.  Now with Amazon trying related ideas.  Have just recently gained some traction.   Basic description below.

AI News

Shopic AI smart carts secure further £7.2m in funding  in ArtificialIntellligence-News.

Retail AI solutions provider Shopic has raised an additional $10 million (£7.2m) of funding, bringing its total amount raised to $21 million.

Shopic’s goal is to transform in-store shopping through its AI-powered clip-on device for shopping carts. The device recognises when shoppers add or remove items to their cart and allows them to pay without the need for a cashier or self-checkout machine.

Seemingly the next step in the nullification of supermarket employees, Shopic’s frictionless solution has enticed a number of investment companies, with Claridge Israel leading the round alongside existing investors Entrée Capital, IBI Tech Fund, and Tal Capital.

The device is already being deployed globally in selected stores of major grocery chains and this additional funding will be directed into accelerating said process and expanding the Shopic team.

“We’re excited to announce this additional funding that will help us progress more rapidly as we expand our solution into new stores and retail partners,” said Raz Golan, CEO and co-founder of Shopic.  “This investment, from a long-term growth investor such as Claridge Israel, is a vote of confidence in our approach to build and deliver frictionless retail solutions that are practical, immediately deployable, and cost-effective, without having to make major changes to the way stores are run,” he added.

Once attached to a shopping cart, the device automatically recognises items placed in or taken out of the cart in real-time, automatically registering them by price and displaying the shopper’s active receipt on the device’s screen.   ... ' 

Amazon's Smart Carts Launch in LA

Update on Amazon  work with the 'smart cart,' which I have mentioned many times in this space. Note also Alexas as assistants.   A new integration.  Could an Alexa assistant provide enough help?  Will this get other grocery players to join in.

Amazon Launches Grocery Store with 'Smart' Shopping Carts, Alexa Guides
The Washington Post  
Hamza Shaban
August 27, 2020

Amazon on Thursday opened its first Fresh grocery store in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, featuring no checkout lines, smart shopping carts, and Alexa virtual assistant-powered guides. Shoppers sign into the Amazon app and put items in a sensor-equipped Dash Cart that identifies each item as it is added and enables customers to use a dedicated checkout lane to pay for those groceries. The store also is integrated with Alexa and Alexa shopping lists, while Echo Show devices can help shoppers navigate the outlet. Unlike the smaller Amazon Go markets, Fresh customers can choose between smart or traditional shopping carts, pay at a checkout lane with cashiers if they prefer, and ask Alexa guides for help. Forrester Research's Sucharita Kodali said, "Obviously, they thought that building something from scratch would be better than to try to retrofit a Whole Foods store.  .... "

Amazon: Re-Emergence of the Smart Cart

We looked at many applications of the smart shopping cart for work in our innovation centers.  The idea seemed to fade then, after 2010,  and none of them succeeded in real practice.  Now surprisingly, Amazon, which has been  doing automatic checkout without the smart cart, has come up with a cart.  Perhaps for enticing bigger buys?  It often too allowed a means to market to the shopper.  See my many posts over years in the 'Smart Cart', tag below, for a history of the space.

Amazon’s new ‘smart’ shopping cart uses sensors to enable cashierless stores   By Maria Deutscher in SiliconAngle

Amazon.com Inc. today pulled back the curtains on its latest retail technology project: a “smart shopping cart” called the Dash Cart that enables store goers to buy groceries without waiting in a checkout line.

Amazon, best known for its e-commerce marketplace, also has a $4 billion-plus brick-and-mortar division. The company is experimenting with cashierless stores that enable customers to walk out with their items and be billed automatically. The Dash Cart is a new evolution of the concept that could help speed up Amazon’s retail expansion, as well advance its plans of becoming a store technology supplier to other retailers.

The Dash Cart (pictured) will first launch in Amazon’s Los Angeles grocery store. It uses a scale, cameras, sensors and computer vision to detect when an item is placed in the cart, as well as if it’s removed later on. When a user is done shopping, they pass through a Dash Cart Lane in the store where their purchase is billed to their Amazon account.  .... "

And further:

Did Amazon just put its Go technology in a shopping cart?  
by George Anderson in Retailwire

Amazon.com is rolling out a new smart shopping cart — Amazon Dash Cart — that will eliminate the need for customers to stop at registers in order to check out of a store.


Similar in some ways to the Just Walk Out technology used in Amazon’s Go convenience format, Dash Cart is designed for small-to-medium sized grocery trips of up to two bags. It uses computer vision algorithms and sensor fusion to identify items placed by shoppers in the cart. When shoppers are ready to check out of the store, they exit through a marked Dash Cart lane where sensors identify the cart and payment is processed using the credit card they use on the Amazon site....'

Smart Carts aiding Self-Checkout

We spent much time examining and testing the idea of a 'smart cart', but none of them ever became commercially viable.    See my coverage at the tag.  Hand held dedicated devices became the replacement, and later the no-checkout idea promoted by 'Amazon Go'.

Tired of Long Lines? Canadian Grocery Chain Debuts Smart Carts with Self-Checkout   The Washington Post   By Peter Holley

Nova Scotia, Canada-based grocery chain Sobeys has launched a pilot program using intelligent shopping carts that scan and weigh items, and help customers skip long checkout lines by allowing them to pay on the spot. Sobeys' Smart Cart fleet features touchscreens that display a running count of purchases as shoppers scan and place their items in bags within the cart; customers can pay as soon as their shopping is completed. Sobeys says that as the carts are upgraded, their screens will help customers navigate stores, fill out shopping lists, and suggest products for recipes. The carts are equipped with high-resolution cameras which, when combined with scales, enable shoppers to add items to their purchase without entering information or scanning bar codes. ... "

Smart Carts Again

We looked at many applications of Smart Carts.   Looks like a good design.  Installation and Cost, Maintenance were the big issues.

Caper's smart shopping cart uses AI to skip checkout lines
The smart cart is now available at two stores in NYC.
By Saqib Shah, @eightiethmnt in Engadget

From cashierless Amazon Go stores to Walmart's self-driving vans for food drop-offs, tech is revolutionizing grocery shopping with an emphasis on speed and convenience. Now a lesser-known startup is entering the fray with its AI-powered shopping carts that could put an end to bothersome checkout lines at your local store.

Equipped with an interactive display and card swiper, the Caper smart shopping cart lets you scan an item's barcode as you shop and pay before you leave. It's already available in two stores in New York, claims the company, which lists Key Food Fresh, Met Fresh and Pioneer Supermarkets as its retail partners on its website. But Caper will need a bigger team-up if it wants to go the distance. .... " 

Net connected Trolley (Shopping Cart)

Implies getting biometric data to understand the consumer.   Privacy an issue, though related methods have been used already.  How will consumers react to the 'activation' of a seemingly inert device?

Technology
Walmart planning 'net-connected trolley'  in BBC Technology

US retail giant Walmart has applied for a patent for a smart shopping trolley that can track a shopper's heart rate, temperature, grip and walking speed.

Such a system would provide valuable information about how shoppers respond to different stores, it said.

The patent, submitted in February, would see trolleys fitted with sensors which in turn send data over the internet to Walmart's servers.

Walmart said it would not collect any personally identifiable data.

The patent, published in August, is titled "System and Method for a Biometric Feedback Cart Handle". .... " 

JP Morgan on Smart Shopping Carts

Was struck by the shopping cart mention, which we spent lots of time on.   See the tag.  Have not seen a real move yet, but the direction here is more of of the rolling robotics type.  Note the apparent strong interest of JP Morgan in robotic AI.

AI needs to start pulling its weight and controlling our shopping carts
Manuela Veloso is tired of dumb items on wheels.   In Technology Review by Erin Winick  

Artificial intelligence is in our phones, beginning to control our money, and giving robots some decision-making powers. But Carnegie Mellon professor Manuela Veloso, incoming head of JPMorgan’s AI research division, is frustrated that things aren’t further along. “I came from the Boston airport last night and I didn’t see a single mobile robot anywhere on my way here,” she said.

After her decades of work in AI research, Veloso is ready to see more mobile robots in our everyday lives. She envisions a future where everything with wheels, from suitcases to shopping carts, will automatically follow you at a single command. “Every time I enter a supermarket and I push this cart, I say, ‘Why can’t this cart follow me?’” said Veloso. “These carts should all be automated.” .... ' 

Driverless Carts

More on driverless carts in retailwire.  And a discussion.   Maybe its not the smart of carts that is important, but the inconvenience.

Wal-Mart Tests Robotic Shopping Carts

In Bloomberg.  This is different from the 'smart cart' idea heavily prototyped previously.  Now including  self powering and navigating features.   Previously self-driving shopping carts were not mentioned.

" ... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is working with a robotics company to develop a shopping cart that helps customers find items on their lists and saves them from pushing a heavy cart through a sprawling store and parking lot, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Such carts are an emerging opportunity for robotics companies as brick-and-mortar stores look for innovative ways to match the convenience of Amazon.com Inc. and other online retailers, said Wendy Roberts, founder and chief executive officer of Five Elements Robotics. ... " 

Video Ads

In Think with Google:  Interesting stats and learnings about the use of video in Ads.    An area we looked at closely.  Google obviously has an interest regarding Youtube.  Our interest was in cart mounted videos.    How does this differ if you use it in-store?  " ... Online video can be much more than an awareness driver. New research shows that YouTube not only drives brand metrics throughout the consumer journey—from consideration and favorability to purchase intent—but also boosts potential for positive return on ad spend compared to TV. ... " 

Smartphone with Augmented Reality

A concept we played with for some time.   Is it a better wat to engage, to buy?  How does it change the very nature of advertising?   Overlaying marketing with your mobile reality.  We primarily studied it on venues like cart mounted displays.    In Adage: " .... Lenovo Unveils First Smartphone With Google's Tango Augmented Reality .... Google's Tango overlays info and objects onto phone displays ... Lenovo has unveiled a smartphone that can see and map out its surroundings with help from an Alphabet 3D-scanning technology. ... "     More about project Tango.

Shopping Cart Invented Today

Have done lots of experimental work with the humble cart/buggy/trolley.   Was also invented at the Piggly-Wiggly chain that claims to be the first modern process grocery store. (You walk around and make selections) Was invented on June 4 in 1937, some say.    Much more related interesting cultural trivia.

(Update) Consider how it has then evolved into the Smart Cart.  Which we studied for years.  That form has not yet succeeded.

Wrist Smart Marketing

In Retailwire:  In-store broadcasting to Smart Watches.  More from InMarket.  I see they are looking at the behavioral interaction between shopper and wearable.  We were also most concerned with what the shopper really wanted in such communications.   We looked at smart displays, cart based devices, smartphones and even wearables before they were feasible.

" ...    Working with Los Angeles-based startup InMarket, Marsh installed beacons across its 75 stores. Shoppers who use Marsh's mobile app or one of the apps in inMarket's numerous applications will be able to decide if they want to receive push notifications on their Watch (when it arrives in March) or smartphone when they enter the store. InMarket's apps include LisEase, Key Ring, Epicurious and CheckPoints. The company's beacon platform reaches 18 percent of all U.S. mobile users, per comScore.

Marsh decides which apps are triggered by the beacons and customers are able to choose which apps work. If approved, a shopping list may pop up for a customer when they enter the store. Shoppers may also be pinged with recipe suggestions or offers in aisles. InMarket believes the Watch is more suitable for messaging than the smartphone. ... " 

Shopping Device Dock

In the lab we examined a number of ways to make grocery shopping smarter.   This included a laptop strapped to the cart, a device embedded inside the handle.  And even a holster that could carry a provided scanner.  See more examples. Now that many people carry their own location enabled smart device, the world has changed.  A new device, the Smartdock, addresses this.  Here more and a demonstration video:

" ... Deliver a better in-store shopping experience with SmartDock. Get mobile devices out of purses and pockets and engage your customers while they shop. SmartDock intuitively drives mobile engagement, distinguishes your brand and elevates the in-store shopping experience — helping to build customer loyalty and drive incremental sales ... " 

Virtual Reality Shopping

A long time experimental area in our enterprise.  Starting with Blackberry phone alerts, then on shelf displays, then cart mounted tablets. The insertion of online shopping dynamics have changed the context.    Are we ready for success?   The need for data and analytics for this is obvious.

Virtual reality technology could change shopping experience 
Food and other retailers are using virtual reality technology and creating augmented-reality applications to improve store layouts and the consumer shopping experience. Technology and retail experts predict that grocery store customers soon will receive coupons for cereal on their tablets or Google Glass technology while browsing the cereal aisle or receive health information about soy milk on their iPads while walking through the dairy department. ... " 

Crowdsourcing Grocery Shopping

Called Instacart:      Personal Shopping remains a narrow market.   With crowdsourcing come quality assurance issues.   " .... In contrast to the high overhead of Webvan, which had its own refrigerated warehouses and a fleet of trucks, Instacart is built on a crowdsourcing model. Its 10 full-time employees, mostly engineers, work from a small office in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood. Its app sends customer orders to about 200 independent Bay Area personal shoppers, who receive commissions based on the number of items and orders they deliver in their own vehicles. The app features detailed maps of local supermarkets and can direct the personal shoppers to specific aisles. Founder Apoorva Mehta says Instacart’s “secret sauce” is its fulfillment software, which allows the online retailer to combine orders placed at different times and fill them from different stores—supplementing frozen food from Trader Joe’s with fresh fruit from Whole Foods (WFM) and cereal from Costco (COST). Customers assemble their orders with lengthy drop-down menus on Instacart’s website or app. ... " 

Kroger Pilots In Aisle Checkout

A piece in Cincinnati.com about Kroger testing their 'Scan, Bag, Go' in aisle checkout system at local stores.  Some good details.  May require registration. Will make a trip to one to try it.   We experimented with many forms of this in the enterprise innovation center.  Including hand scanners, on cart displays and smartphones.  Particularly interesting to see how their loyalty system is integrated and what kind of in store travel is tracked.   I still believe this functionality will eventually be broadly delivered on the consumers own smartphone

Virtual Peapod Store in Chicago Tunnel

The approach uses simple smartphone scanning.   " ... A Chicago "L" station is about the last place you would think of to pick up a carton of milk. But online grocer Peapod has turned a busy CTA station at State and Lake streets into a virtual supermarket aisle, enabling commuters to use their smartphones to scan and buy any of 70 items.... " .

Nice thought for quickly doing shopping on the way home where Peapod is already established.  I could see this being implemented in many such locations for advertising and shopping in new contexts.