Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent.
Supermarkets
are
trying
out
new
computers
that
make
shopping
carts
more
intelligent
.
They will help shoppers find cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill.
They
will
help
shoppers
find
cups
or
toilet
soap
,
and
keep
a
record
of
the
bill
.
The touch-screen devices are on show at the Food Marketing Institute's exhibition here this week.
The
touch-screen
devices
are
on
show
at
the
Food
Marketing
Institute
's
exhibition
here
this
week
.
"These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker," said Michael Alexander, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc. which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge.
``
These
devices
are
able
to
create
value
and
get
you
around
the
store
quicker
,
''
said
Michael
Alexander
,
manager
of
Springboard
Retail
Networks
Inc.
which
makes
a
smart
cart
computer
called
the
Concierge
.
Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July.
Canadian
stores
will
test
the
Concierge
in
July
.
A similar device, IBM's "shopping buddy," has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts.
A
similar
device
,
IBM
's
``
shopping
buddy
,
''
has
recently
been
test-marketed
at
Stop
&
Shop
stores
in
Massachusetts
.
Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale.
Neither
device
tells
you
how
many
fat
grams
or
calories
are
in
your
cart
,
but
they
will
flash
you
with
items
on
sale
.
The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf.
The
idea
is
to
make
it
easier
for
people
to
buy
,
not
to
have
second
thoughts
that
maybe
you
should
put
something
back
on
the
shelf
.
"The whole model is driven by advertisers' need to get in front of shoppers," said Alexander.
``
The
whole
model
is
driven
by
advertisers
'
need
to
get
in
front
of
shoppers
,
''
said
Alexander
.
"They're not watching 30-second TV ads any more."
``
They
're
not
watching
30-second
TV
ads
any
more
.
''
People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists.
People
can
use
a
home
computer
to
make
their
shopping
lists
.
Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system that will organize the trip around the store.
Once
at
the
store
,
a
shopper
can
use
a
preferred
customer
card
to
start
a
system
that
will
organize
the
trip
around
the
store
.
If you're looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them.
If
you
're
looking
for
toothpicks
,
you
type
in
the
word
or
pick
it
from
a
list
,
and
a
map
will
appear
on
the
screen
showing
where
you
are
and
where
you
can
find
them
.
The devices also keep a record of what you buy.
The
devices
also
keep
a
record
of
what
you
buy
.
When you're finished, the device figures out your bill.
When
you
're
finished
,
the
device
figures
out
your
bill
.
Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay.
Then
you
go
to
the
checker
or
place
your
card
into
a
self-checkout
stand
and
pay
.
The new computerized shopping assistants don't come cheap.
The
new
computerized
shopping
assistants
do
n't
come
cheap
.
The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device.
The
Buddy
devices
will
cost
the
average
store
about
$
160,000
,
and
the
Concierge
will
cost
stores
about
$
500
for
each
device
.
Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent. They will help shoppers find cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill. The touch-screen devices are on show at the Food Marketing Institute's exhibition here this week. "These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker," said Michael Alexander, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc. which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge. Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July.  A similar device, IBM's "shopping buddy," has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts. Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf. "The whole model is driven by advertisers' need to get in front of shoppers," said Alexander. "They're not watching 30-second TV ads any more."  People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system that will organize the trip around the store. If you're looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them. The devices also keep a record of what you buy. When you're finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay.  The new computerized shopping assistants don't come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device.