Morrisons has rolled out Instacart’s AI-powered smart trolleys at its Preston store, marking Instacart’s first retail partnership in the UK, to help consumers shop more efficiently and stay on budget.

The Caper smart carts aim to bring the convenience and intelligence of online shopping directly into the store. Automatically recognising items as they are placed in the trolley, including weighing fresh produce on the spot, customers can bag items as they shop, saving time and making checkout quicker and easier.

The trolley’s touchscreen also displays a running basket total, helping shoppers keep on top of spending, as well as making relevant product recommendations. It also enables customers to scan their Morrisons More Card to instantly access loyalty savings and promotions as they go round the store.

At the checkout, shoppers then scan the barcode displayed on the trolley’s screen at a dedicated Caper checkout lane and complete their payment.

Gordon Macpherson, Productivity Director at Morrisons, said: “Caper smart trolleys give 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 respond to this innovative new trolley in this in-store trial,” Macpherson added. 

“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,” said David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. “Customers want technology that helps them stay on budget and discover products they love, and Caper smart trolleys deliver both, directly in the aisle.”

Instacart’s Caper smart trolleys are now live in more than 100 cities across the U.S. and Australia with Kroger, Wakefern Food Corp., Schnucks and Coles among the retailers using the AI-powered carts.