In order to make shopping experiences much smoother and more efficient, grocery store giant Albertsons (ACI  ) will now be testing self-checkout grocery carts in select locations as consumers return to physical store locations. These carts, created by tech start-up Veeve will typically utilize cameras and sensors in order to keep track of products that customers choose, which will enable them to skip the checkout line.

Founded in 2018 by two engineers, Shariq Siddiqui and Umer Sadiq--who once worked at Amazon (AMZN  )--Veeve features a touchscreen that includes a total amount for collected items as well as a built-in scale that makes it easy for consumers to buy their items. Consumers can finish paying and then leave after participating in their self-checkout process.



"Veeve Smart Carts offer a sophisticated yet simple self-checkout experience for people who value flexibility and time savings," Alyse Wuson, senior director of omni experiences at Albertsons, said in a statement. "Our goal is to enhance the grocery experience no matter how our guests choose to shop, and Veeve's technology brings the ease and integration of e-commerce right to the grocery cart."

Albertsons started to experiment with Veeve carts in Idaho and California stores in November 2021. Now, Albertsons is looking to expand, with the ultimate objective of featuring the carts in several dozen more stores.

One of the major obstacles for Veeve has been conveying to fellow retailers and customers that their carts are worthy of being invested in and used. The carts can be very costly, typically ranging from around $5,000 and $10,000 each.

In order to use the cart, consumers are instructed to put in their phone numbers on the screen in order to check in and then put Veeve canvas shopping bags into their baskets. On the touchscreen, consumers will be able to search for various items and obtain instructions in order to discover products in the stores.


Customers can additionally gather item recommendations, order histories, personalized offers, digital coupons, and technological assistance from the touchscreens.