Morrisons has confirmed the introduction of AI-powered Caper smart trolleys at its Preston supermarket, developed in partnership with Instacart. The trolleys automatically recognise items placed inside, including weighing fresh produce, and allow customers to bag items as they shop.
How the Smart Trolleys Work
A touchscreen on the trolley displays a running basket total to help shoppers stay on budget, makes product recommendations, and enables scanning of the Morrisons More Card for loyalty savings and promotions. At checkout, customers scan a barcode on the screen at a dedicated Caper lane to complete payment without unloading and repacking items.
Executives Comment on the Innovation
David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart, said: “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.”
Gordon Macpherson, Productivity Director at Morrisons, 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.”
