Woolworths to introduce major technology change in fruit and veggie aisle: "The future of retail"
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The fresh fruit and vegetable section at Woolworths is headed for a shake-up, and the retailer has announced that the change will be rolled out to all of its stores in Australia soon.
The supermarket giant, in collaboration with Tiliter, is introducing new Artificially Intelligent (AI) Scales to be used in the supermarket's produce sections nationwide.
According to the supermarket company, the new scales will help customers manage their budgets by providing a convenient and speedy reading of the weight of fruits and vegetables.
Customers need only place their items on the Tiliter AI Scale, which will automatically identify the product and display its weight on the screen, rather than having to wait until they reach the register for an accurate reading.
After that, the device will display a barcode on the screen containing the specific item information for the customer, ready to be scanned with retail mobile checkout applications. Annoying look-up menus will no longer be necessary, thank goodness!
New AI scales will soon replace analogue convenience scales in the produce section. Credit: Photograph Dallas KIlponen/Woolworths.
A small number of retail locations across the country are providing feedback on the new technology as it goes through its trial period.
It is anticipated that the scales will be gradually rolled out across the entirety of the Woolworths supermarket chain, which includes more than one thousand locations all over the country.
In order to provide customers with a more up-to-date and digital alternative, the new scales will replace the existing analogue convenience scales that are located in the fruit and vegetable department.
Sailesh Shankar, Woolworths' Head of Business Solutions - Customer, Retail and Emerging Concepts, said, "We're excited to continue our partnership with Tiliter through the implementation of new, digital scales."
"Through both accessibility and convenience, these scales will help provide a better in-store shopping experience for our customers. Over the coming months, we'll pay close attention to the customer and team member feedback on the project."
This trial is the result of a partnership between Tiliter and Woolworths that began in 2020 with the launch of Woolworths' Scan & Go initiative.
"The nationwide rollout of Tiliter AI Scales across Woolworths is ushering in the future of retail," said Marcel Herz, Tiliter's CEO.
"With this partnership, a growing number of Australian shoppers will be able to use cutting-edge AI technology in a natural and seamless manner, just as they would their smartphones."
"With technology like this capable of expanding across e-commerce, this is just the beginning."
Up to six scales will be set up at the front of each fresh produce aisle in the fruit and vegetable section of Woolworths stores. You might see one in your local Woolies soon!
It would appear that increasingly modern forms of technology are gradually making their way into our everyday lives. What are your thoughts, folks?
If you're curious to see how the new AI machine works, check out this video below:
Credit: Tiliter.