Instacart and Coles Supermarkets have introduced AI-powered Caper Carts at the Richmond Traders store in Melbourne, transforming the in-store shopping experience, Instacart stated in a press release.
Coles has made history as the first APAC retailer to debut Instacart’s Caper Carts and the first in Australia to roll out AI-powered shopping trolleys.
Caper Carts feature AI, cameras, and a built-in scale that automatically detect items as they’re placed in the trolley. Shoppers can bag items as they go, track their total in real time – much like online shopping – and complete their purchase directly from the cart for a seamless checkout experience.
Coles’ Caper Carts are integrated with the Flybuys rewards programme, enabling shoppers to accumulate points effortlessly. By scanning their Flybuys card or Coles app, customers can access exclusive deals and see in-store promotions displayed on the trolley’s screen.
Shopping with Caper Carts offers a seamless digital experience, as purchased items automatically appear in the ‘buy it again’ section of the Coles app and website. Adding a fun twist, the smart trolleys feature a gamified checkout, where customers can spin a digital wheel for a chance to win exclusive discounts.
‘Caper Carts are transforming the chore of shopping into an adventure, leveraging Edge AI-powered systems to make the shopping experience fun and personalised’, said David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart.
‘We’re excited to bring Caper Carts to Australia in partnership with Coles and continue to collaborate to deliver the best possible in-store shopping experience, bringing what customers love best about online shopping into the store, and vice versa’, he added.
Instacart, North America’s leading grocery technology company, partners with over 1,500 national, regional, and local retailers to revolutionise shopping. Through the Instacart Marketplace, it powers online ordering, delivery, and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across the region.
Coles is a top Australian retailer with over 1,800 supermarkets and liquor stores nationwide. Employing more than 120,000 team members and working with more than 8,000 suppliers, Coles serves millions of customers each week across its stores and digital platforms.
