Morrisons has announced it will partner with Instacart to trial its AI-powered Caper Cart smart trolleys early next year.

Initially launching in one store, with the potential for a further rollout, the Caper Carts are designed to elevate the in-store experience, allowing customers to scan items as they shop, track their grocery bill total in real time, and check out easily. To complete their purchase, customers scan the barcode displayed on the trolley’s screen at the store’s self-checkout area.

The trolleys feature interactive screens, built-in scales, and AI-powered sensors that guide customers through scanning and placing items directly into the basket – including weighing fresh produce directly in the trolley.

The smart trolleys will also be integrated with the Morrisons More Card loyalty programme. This implementation will be Instacart’s first retail partnership in the UK.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to bring innovation to the weekly shop to enhance the experience for our customers, and the cutting-edge technology of Caper Carts brings the best of digital and physical retail together in-store. We’re excited about bringing the first fully-integrated AI-powered trolleys in the UK to a first store soon, and look forward to testing customer response and building understanding of how the technology works within the Morrisons store estate.”

Gordon Macpherson, Productivity Director, Morrisons.

With a digital screen that can surface personalised deals, suggest product pairings, and serve as a new retail media touchpoint right in the aisle, Instacart says the trolleys not only enhance the customer experience but unlock new opportunities for monetisation and incremental basket growth for retailers.

“Shopping is no longer solely online or in-store – it’s a hybrid of both – and Caper Carts offer a seamless way to combine the convenience and personalisation of ecommerce with the inspiration and discovery that happens in physical stores,” commented David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer, at Instacart.

In the US, Instacart says Caper Carts are available for shoppers in nearly 100 cities across 15 states within retailers including Coles, Kroger, Schnucks, and Wakefern.