Waitrose has concluded a trial of artificial intelligence-powered smart trolleys at its store in Bracknell, Berkshire. The trial, described by the supermarket as “very small scale,” marked the first use of such technology in a UK supermarket, according to The Grocer.
The system, developed by Israeli software firm Shopic, attaches to standard Waitrose trolleys via a handlebar-like device. Shoppers scan barcodes of products before placing them in the trolley, while rear-facing cameras verify the items in real time. The device displays a running total of the shopping bill, updating as items are added or removed.
Customers accessed the devices from a charging bank near the store entrance, releasing them with a Waitrose loyalty card. A Waitrose spokesperson said the technology worked similarly to the existing ScanPayGo handsets but with a larger screen that identifies each item placed in or taken out of the cart.
The trial aimed to explore frictionless payment options, though the retailer confirmed it would maintain conventional checkouts for customers who prefer staff interaction. Shopic noted the technology could also provide retailers with data on customer movements, aisle dwell times, and shelf interactions, as well as serving contextual advertisements and offers.
Other UK supermarkets have also introduced AI-powered features, including Tesco and Sainsbury's with cameras at self-checkouts to detect unscanned items, and Co-op with electronic shelf labels that allow customers to join loyalty schemes by tapping their phones.
