Chinese electronic shelf label specialist (ESL) Hanshow introduced a smart shopping cart, developed with Microsoft, at this month’s NRF Big Show in Singapore.

The car uses the Azure Open AI platform, leveraging generative AI (genAI) to enhance customer experience and store operations in a smarter, more connected retail ecosystem. An AI copilot personalises shopping, offering tailored recommendations and syncing online and in-store customer profiles.

Additionally, the smart cart enables skip-the-queue checkout for faster, more convenient transactions.

Retailers benefit from media revenue by displaying location-based advertisements and offering smart product recommendations. It also provides data on shopper behaviour and product performance.

In addition, Hanshow’s Lumina digital display series changes in-store marketing by integrating with genAI, providing digital marketing. With the power of GPT-4 and Dall-E3, users can craft product posters, atmospheric marketing visuals, and persuasive product copy through simple text commands.

“Our co-innovations with Microsoft, showcased at NRF, mark a significant step in revolutionising the retail experience,” said Shiguo Hou, CEO of Hanshow. “Together, we are not only redefining shopping but also empowering retailers with the tools to excel in a competitive landscape and forge a shared vision for the future.”

Hanshow’s vision for a greener future in retail outlines the steps businesses must take to balance decarbonisation and sustainability with creating value for customers, employees and stakeholders. A key component of this vision is the ESL, which transforms retail operations by enabling dynamic pricing, real-time promotions and efficient inventory management. ESLs help retailers lower their carbon footprint by reducing food waste and enhancing resource efficiency.

Additionally, Hanshow has expanded its offerings with digital energy (www.hanshow.com/en/digital-energy). Key aspects of this include globally integrated local teams, R&D innovation, round-the-clock butler service, one-stop turnkey PV digital energy system, and flexible financing options with PPA resources. These initiatives drive sustainability and business growth by providing tailored PV, charging and digital energy management systems.

Hanshow’s participation in NRF provided hands-on experience to attendees, giving a glimpse into where technology is going for a more intelligent, efficient and eco-friendly retail landscape (www.hanshow.com/en/solutions/category/intelligent-store).

Hanshow (www.hanshow.com) develops and manufactures ESLs (www.hanshow.com/en/solutions/category/electronic-shelf-labels) and digital store technology. The company offers customers a series of customised IoT touchpoints and digital store options that deliver customer-centric insights. Its products have provided services to stores in more than 50 countries and regions, helping them streamline operations, optimise pricing strategies and offer consumers a more personalised experience.