Wegmans continues to explore and implement smart shopping cart technology
In a move to enhance the shopping experience, Instacart's AI-powered smart carts, known as Caper Carts, are now being tested at select Wegmans stores. These innovative carts are currently available at the Dewitt location in Syracuse, New York, as well as stores in Perinton and Pittsford in Rochester, and Alberta Drive in Buffalo.
The technology, described as early-stage by Wegmans, is limited to these selected stores to gather customer feedback for improvements. The smart carts use cameras, digital scales, and location sensors supported by NVIDIA Jetson hardware to recognize items automatically, allowing customers to bag items as they shop seamlessly.
Instacart, a grocery technology company based in San Francisco, is known for facilitating online shopping, delivery, and pickup services from over 100,000 stores across North America. The company's CEO, Chris Rogers, who recently took over from Fidji Simo, has expressed strong progress with smart carts and complementary technologies like electronic shelf labels ("Carrot Tags").
Instacart's smart carts allow customers to log in to their account, automatically track items as they are placed in the cart, monitor their spending in real-time to help with budgeting, access loyalty program accounts, and pay directly from the cart without needing to wait at traditional checkouts.
Beyond the smart carts, Instacart is actively expanding its omnichannel offerings, aiming to blend digital and physical shopping experiences. The company is growing retailer partnerships significantly, adding over 40 new retailers in the first half of 2025.
Additional benefits and operational improvements for Instacart shoppers include enhanced loyalty integration via the smart carts, making spending and rewards tracking easier. Coupons and incentives are also being offered to encourage repeat purchases across online and offline channels. Instacart is also working on increasing efficiency and scale in delivery operations to reduce costs and improve service.
Instacart's Chief Connected Stores Officer, David McIntosh, stated that the Caper Carts effectively marry tech and in-store preferences and habits. The company is hoping that this innovative approach will revolutionize the shopping experience for customers.
Meanwhile, Wegmans continues to make strides in the grocery industry. The company operates 112 stores along the East Coast and is ranked No. 40 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer's 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. PG also named Wegmans among its Most Sustainable Grocers.
The Wegmans store in Norwalk, Conn. is scheduled to open on July 23 at 9 a.m., but the smart carts are not yet confirmed to be available at this location.
As Instacart continues to innovate with omnichannel retail technologies and provides promotions to encourage a seamless shopper experience across digital and physical platforms, it will be interesting to see how the pilot project progresses at Wegmans and whether it will be expanded to more stores in the future.
[1] Instacart Press Release, "Instacart Launches AI-Powered Smart Carts at Wegmans," [https://www.instacart.com/press/instacart-launches-ai-powered-smart-carts-at-wegmans] [2] Wegmans Press Release, "Wegmans Tests AI and Smart Shopping Features in Multiple Store Locations," [https://www.wegmans.com/press-releases/wegmans-tests-ai-and-smart-shopping-features-in-multiple-store-locations] [3] Instacart Press Release, "Instacart Expands Omnichannel Offerings and Incentivizes Shoppers," [https://www.instacart.com/press/instacart-expands-omnichannel-offerings-and-incentivizes-shoppers] [4] Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart. [5] TechCrunch, "Instacart's AI-Powered Smart Carts Make Their Debut at Wegmans," [https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/10/instacarts-ai-powered-smart-carts-make-their-debut-at-wegmans/]
- Smart-home devices and gadgets can potentially benefit from Instacart's AI-powered technology in the future, as the company plans to blend digital and physical shopping experiences, aiming for a seamless omnichannel approach.
- Instacart's expanding omnichannel offerings, particularly the AI-powered smart carts, demonstrate the integration of technology in retail, further highlighting its position as a leader in grocery technology.
