Committing to sustainable innovation with the smart cart
Helping our customers shop more efficiently. That is the driving force behind our innovations, such as the smart cart, which automatically scans and settles up products that customers put in this special shopping cart. Anne dives into the pros, including the sustainable aspect.
Innovating the retail sector
Anne Everars, project manager at Smart Innovation, contributed to the smart cart, an example of technological progress in the retail sector. “This innovative system offers customers the possibility to automatically scan and settle up products while they are shipping,” she says, “thus significantly increasing efficiency in the stores.” How it works? “The self-scanning shopping cart uses AI and smart sensors to scan products and check their weight. Articles without bar code, such as fruit and vegetables, can be weighed by customers and directly added to their bill. This reduces waiting times at the checkout and provides a much smoother shopping experience.”
The smart cart is a first for Belgium!
Sustainable shopping experience
So, thanks to better processes, customers can shop more conveniently and Colruyt Group grows in its sustainable entrepreneurship. “By speeding up the shopping process and optimising supply management, the smart cart contributes to a more efficient use of resources and helps to reduce the ecological footprint of the retail sector.” And the challenges? “Integrating this technology in our existing systems and the speed at which we had to develop it were big challenges. But thanks to the close collaboration with various teams and external parties, we made important steps towards the future of shopping.”
Event on sustainable innovation
To share insights with other players in the industry, Colruyt Group IT helped organise the event ‘Tech for Sustainability: Innovating Today for a Greener Tomorrow’, in collaboration with the ‘Women in Tech’ community Clusity. Anne Everars was a keynote speaker, alongside Diane Umunyurwa. They both talked about their technological solutions for sustainability and their personal journey in the world of IT.
Innovation for a more inclusive future
Diane, engineer and founder of G-Hitech, develops innovative battery solutions and solar energy projects in remote areas where access to energy is limited. She also explained that technology itself is not enough: “For sustainable impact, it has to be part of a bigger whole with partnerships, cultural understanding and new business models. I want people to realise that there are huge possibilities for profitable, sustainable companies in upcoming markets.”
