New High Tech Shopping Carts Unveiled at Hudson Valley ShopRites

ShopRite supermarkets across the country are beginning to roll out new, state-of-the-art shopping carts that can scan products, apply coupons, and more... and they're starting to pop up at locations in the Hudson Valley.

While the idea of a "checkout-'free" store experience isn't new (Amazon Go stores, which have appeared in several major cities in recent years, uses technology to scan items as customers leave through a turnstile, and charges their Amazon account), the new ShopRite carts seem to have taken the idea to a new level.

New High-Tech Shopping Carts at Hudson Valley ShopRite Stores

As ShopRite explained, the carts, named Caper Carts, have multiple pieces of technology on board that are meant to streamline the shopping experience and encourage the use of the ShopRite loyalty card. Here's how it works:

How Do New Caper Carts Work?

Upon arriving, customers "sign in" to a Caper Cart using their ShopRite loyalty card. Similar to a self checkout experience, sensors located around the cart scan items, and produce items are entered manually on a small tablet screen. A scale imbedded in the bottom of the cart weighs produce to give an accurate price (again, like self checkout). When it's time to leave, customers have several options.

Checkout-Free Shopping at ShopRite with Caper Carts

Customers with credit cards linked to their ShopRite loyalty account can elect to pay through the Caper Cart tablet and simply leave the store. Another option is to select "checkout" on the tablet at the end of shopping, which will bring up a barcode to be scanned at self checkout.

Caper Carts May Encourage Higher Customer Spending

The Caper Cart isn't a ShopRite exclusive, but rather a technology developed and offered by Instacart (below). Their website promises retailers that the Caper Cart will deliver "larger baskets during shops, more frequent return trips and omnichannel conversions that increase [lifetime value] of each customer".

Who Benefits from Using Caper Carts?

Research also showed that in addition to encouraging customers to spend more money, the Caper Carts also makes buying groceries quicker, with shoppers experiencing trips that were roughly 18% faster. Now, Hudson Valley residents can experience the new Caper Carts for themselves.

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Currently, ShopRite of Hudson in Columbia County and ShopRite of New Rochelle in Westchester County have confirmed their use of Caper Carts. Get ready for your next grocery shopping trip by brushing up on which items are getting more expensive in New York State below.