Instacart and Morrisons have rolled out caper smart trolleys to the supermarket’s Preston store, marking Instacart’s first UK retail partnership for its AI-powered smart trolley. 

The caper smart trolleys are designed to “bring the convenience and intelligence of online shopping directly into the store,” according to the business. 

The trolleys automatically recognise items as they are placed inside them and weigh fresh produce on the spot. 

Customers are able to bag items as they shop, “saving time throughout the trip and making checkout quicker and easier”. 

The trolley’s touchscreen displays a running basket total to help shoppers stay on budget. It also makes relevant product recommendations and enables customers to scan their Morrisons More Card to instantly access loyalty savings and promotions throughout their shop. 

At the end of their shopping trip, customers scan the barcode displayed on the trolley’s screen at a dedicated caper checkout lane to complete their payment.

Caper smart trolleys are currently live across more than 100 cities throughout the US and Australia, with businesses including Kroger, Wakefern Food Corp., Schnucks, and Coles. 

Morrisons productivity director Gordon Macpherson said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re always looking for ways to make their weekly shop easier, more rewarding, and more enjoyable, to give them more reasons to shop at Morrisons. 

“Caper smart trolleys do exactly that, giving customers real-time visibility of their spending, instant access to their More Card savings, and a more seamless experience in the aisle. 

“We’re proud to be the first UK retailer to bring this technology to our customers, and we look forward to seeing how shoppers in Preston and across Lancashire respond to this innovative new trolley in this in-store trial.” 

Instacart chief connected stores officer David McIntosh: “Caper smart trolleys represent a new era for in-store grocery shopping – one where the physical store is as intelligent and personalised as the best online experience.

“Customers want technology that helps them stay on budget and discover products they love, and Caper smart trolleys deliver both, directly in the aisle. 

“We’re proud to bring this to the UK for the first time through our partnership with Morrisons, who share our belief that technology should make the weekly shop not just easier, but genuinely more enjoyable.” 

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