There’s no denying that a supermarket trolley is an indispensable tool for grocery shopping. Now, Amazon is taking a leap further and creating a high-tech, sturdier- Dash Cart. The smart trolley is set to offer you a cashier-free experience on wheels and is equipped with weight sensors and cameras that will help identify items and charge accordingly as you make your way to the checkout.
(Source: TechSpot)
The Dash Cart will feel similar to Amazon Go. The process involves signing into your Amazon account and then scan a QR code with the Amazon app to link and activate your cart. The cart will then recognize the packaged items as they are put inside or removed from the cart and then display the shopping list on the front-mounted touchscreen.
People shopping for fresh produce such as fruits or vegetables will, however, have to enter a four-digit code on the display while specifying the quantity for each item and then weigh it on the cart’s in-built scales. Customers can use the onboard scanner to redeem coupons, while the cart will only have space to fit two filled shopping bags.
According to Dilip Kumar, Amazon’s VP of physical retail and technology, Dash Carts will be an alternative to things like express checkout, where you are more likely to end up waiting in line or fumbling with self-checkout machines. He also added that the Dash Cart is designed to withstand the rough and abuse of grocery shopping with strong wheels that won’t fall off or go off-balance as is usually the case.
While Amazon began selling its cashier-free technology to other retailers earlier this year, it is not clear if it’ll do the same for Dash Carts. The first batch of Dash Carts is set to roll out at the Amazon’s grocery store in Woodland Hills, LA. Unlike its cashier-free Go stores, this outlet will feature conventional checkout and cashier-free lanes, making it a great testing environment for its Dash Carts.