Colruyt tests smart shopping trolleys that automatically detect products

Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt is testing a new smart trolley that can automatically detect the items placed inside of it.

The prototype is being experimented within Colruyt’s supermarket in Halle, RTBF reports, and all of its features are not yet available to customers during this test phase.

“It's a combination of several technologies: cameras, weight measurement using scales, and a scanner that scans product barcodes,” said Gilles Godin, head of innovation at Colruyt.

The shopping trolley is equipped with a touch screen and cameras directly recognise the product without needing to scan a barcode.

“We're currently in the pilot phase, so we're testing the system with staff from the central services here in Halle,” Godin said, noting that self-scanning is still being used during this trial.

“The aim is for the cameras to enhance their product recognition. Once we roll out the system, the cameras will work at 100% to directly recognise the product without even scanning the barcode.”

Customers will also be able to create a shopping list at home online and then retrieve it on the shopping trolley’s touch screen.

To pay, they will be able to choose between the traditional checkout and payment via the screen and the Payconiq app.

Colruyt said the smart trolley would not result in job losses and that widespread deployment is a way off.