AUSTRALIA | Customers can shop smarter, pick and pack as they go and pay directly on the Coles Smart Trolley for a seamless shopping experience.
Coles has brought a new level of convenience to in-store grocery shopping. It has become the first retailer in Australia to trial an all-in-one AI-powered Smart Trolley.
Developed in partnership with the grocery technology company Instacart, the Coles Smart Trolley allows customers to track their spending in real-time, pack as they shop, and skip the checkout line for a more seamless and efficient shopping experience.
The innovative technology will be trialled at Coles Richmond Traders in Melbourne from January 2025. Customers will have the opportunity to experience and learn how to use the Coles Smart Trolleys before the trial begins.
The Coles Smart Trolley uses advanced AI technology, sensors, and an in-built scale to scan groceries, including fresh produce, directly into shopping bags and streamline the checkout process so customers can pay on the trolley and go.
The smart trolley has made locating offers throughout the store easier for customers. It features an interactive digital screen that displays current in-store specials and product aisle locations. It also features a running total of their shop to help them manage their budget.
Customers who scan their Coles App or Flybuys card can also collect Flybuys points while shopping. In-built gamification allows customers who scan their Coles App or Flybuys card to ‘Spin the Wheel’ at checkout to win additional discounts on their total shop when they spend $50 or more in a single transaction.
Coles Chief Digital Officer Ben Hassing said the introduction of the Coles Smart Trolley showcased Coles’ commitment to delivering value and convenience to customers through innovative digital solutions.
“As the first retailer in Australia to introduce AI-powered trolleys, we’re excited to offer our customers a convenient and engaging way to shop in-store, helping them save time, manage their budget and checkout faster – or at their own pace,” said Hassing.
“The Coles Smart Trolley illustrates our omnichannel approach, leveraging digital capabilities to enrich the in-store experience. We are committed to testing and learning through innovative solutions to ensure we deliver on customer needs, increasing convenience, and helping customers discover more value through their shop at Coles.”
Instacart Chief Connected Stores Officer David McIntosh said the partnership with Coles represented an exciting entry into the APAC market.
“At Instacart, we have spent the last decade empowering retailers with the technologies they need to serve their customers better any way they choose to shop, and we’re delighted to partner with Coles Group to bring the Caper Cart technology to Australia and APAC for the first time,” said McIntosh.
“With cost-of-living pressures top of mind, we’ve found customers especially love the way the trolley's digital screen helps them see their running total and manage their budget in real-time along with discovering further discounts and money off their total by spinning the digital wheel.”
As part of Coles’ strategic commitment to meeting customers’ increasing digital usage by creating a more effortless omnichannel shopping experience, the Coles Smart Trolley has embraced retail technologies to bring the benefits of online shopping to the in-store journey.
