Morrisons has become the first supermarket chain in the UK to deploy California-based Instacart’s smart shopping trolleys.

The Caper smart carts have been deployed at Morrisons’ supermarket at Preston, Lancashire, in the north-west of England. Caper smart trolleys bring the convenience and intelligence of online shopping directly into the store, and the launch comes as consumers increasingly seek technology that helps them shop more efficiently, stay on budget and rediscover the joy of browsing the aisles.

Caper smart trolleys automatically recognise items as they are placed in the trolley, including weighing fresh produce on the spot. Customers can bag items as they shop, saving time throughout the trip and making checkout quicker and easier.

The trolley’s touchscreen displays a running basket total to help shoppers stay on budget, makes relevant product recommendations, and enables shoppers to scan their Morrisons More Card to access loyalty savings and promotions throughout their shop. At the end of their trip, they simply scan the barcode displayed on the trolley’s screen at a dedicated Caper checkout lane to complete payment.

“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 (www.instacart.com). “Customers want technology that helps them stay on budget and discover products they love, and Caper smart trolleys deliver both, directly in the aisle. We’re proud to bring this to the UK for the first time through our partnership with Morrisons, who share our belief that technology should make the weekly shop not just easier, but genuinely more enjoyable.”

Gordon Macpherson, productivity director at Morrisons (www.morrisons-corporate.com), added: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re always looking for ways to make their weekly shop easier, more rewarding and more enjoyable, to give them more reasons to shop at Morrisons. Caper smart trolleys do exactly that, giving 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 in Preston and across Lancashire respond to this innovative new trolley in this in-store trial.”

According to research from Researchscape on behalf of Instacart, 54% of UK consumers say they enjoy discovering products they were not originally looking for, yet the weekly shop is often done on autopilot. Caper smart trolleys are designed to change that, highlighting relevant deals and recommendations that help shoppers find new products as they browse. At the same time, 53% of UK consumers say they have passed on groceries because they were unsure they could afford them, and 46% cite loyalty programmes as their preferred budgeting tool. Caper smart trolleys help shoppers discover products, stay on budget and make the most of their More Card savings.

Caper smart trolleys are now live in more than 100 cities across the USA and Australia with Kroger, Wakefern Food, Schnucks, Coles and more.