Another failed smart shopping cart concept shown off by EDS

At this point we've seen so many variations on the "smart shopping cart" concept bubble up and fail we're pretty jaded, but the latest version, from Electronic Data Systems, seems like it almost maybe has a chance. Unlike previous concepts, the EDS model is built around the humble bar code: swiping items as you place them in your cart lets you keep a running tally of nutritional information, ethical sourcing, and environmental impact, letting you modify your purchasing decisions simply and quickly. Keeping it simple might be the winning strategy here, but we're not going to be convinced until the carts at our local can do more than just veer straight left.

[Via Vegetarian Organic Blog]

[Chris F @ Oct 11th 2007 5:22AM]

Plenty of stores in the UK already do this...

[Stephen @ Oct 11th 2007 6:01AM]

Finally, homeless geeks have a cart just for them. I wonder if it could keep track of the current price of aluminum, and how many cans they've collected.

[zfurie @ Oct 11th 2007 12:06PM]

Does the screen act like a headrest when cartriding?

[Twitchy @ Oct 11th 2007 6:48AM]

Does it also keep a running total of your purchases? Prolly not, as that would stop you from buying too much. I guess I'll ignore this attempt to suck more money out of my wallet too.

Now if they could finally get RFID tags into every product so that all I need to do is walk through a little gate on the way out and have the total automatically deducted from my RF Visa Key-tag, that would be handy.

[jrflesch @ Oct 11th 2007 9:46AM]

This would be fantastic but unfortunately with the low grocery retail margins, .5-.10 price on RFID tags (This is with a PO of many many millions), and further equipment, cost to implement a system like this i doubt we see this before 2015 or even later.

[justin @ Oct 11th 2007 8:19AM]

just put the god damn calculator back on the shopping cart - gesh

[ecobore @ Oct 11th 2007 8:31AM]

Funny, they all veer to the right in my local!

[Jacob @ Oct 11th 2007 8:37AM]

The real reason these techno-carts keep failing is that they're a solution to a problem that doesn't exist! At least, there's no real-world problem that they're solving for shoppers.

The problem they're really aimed at is helping the grocery stores collect more data on consumer habits... so, the stores are very excited to try out such solutions, and throw lots of money at them. But, in the end, because these devices end up making shopping more complex and difficult, the shoppers simply refuse to use them.

[huh @ Oct 11th 2007 9:08AM]

Umm, I think the article said they are designed to provide a "running tally of nutritional information, ethical sourcing, and environmental impact." Judging from the reaction here, Engadget users just want the cheapest product.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 11th 2007 8:47AM]

Those screens break right off as soon as you hit the curb!

[Magallanes @ Oct 11th 2007 9:34AM]

I always want a shopping card with a hyperwarp motor.

[Jason Flesch @ Oct 11th 2007 9:35AM]

if you guys want to see a SMART Grocery Store technology then head on over to Tagnetics.com.

This Electronic shelf label(ESL) system has tags which are powered on the same standard of those prototype cellphone charging plates(Inductive power transfer). This system also touts the ability to communicate over the same infrastructure.

www.tagnetics.com

[Galley @ Oct 11th 2007 9:53AM]

Bloom stores in the U.S. have handheld scanners that do keep a running total.

[Galley @ Oct 11th 2007 9:54AM]

I forgot, once you're finished, you dock the scanner, and swipe your credit card. There's no need to rescan everything.

[anonymous @ Oct 11th 2007 10:34AM]

but this requires someone to verify that you scanned everything. RFID tags are the way to go, Stores could reduce their staffing as there would be practically no need for cashiers thereby the savings would be offset by the tags but result in more reliable inventories, tracking and accountability.

[jrflesch @ Oct 11th 2007 10:50AM]

i work in this industry. Trust me when i say, labor savings alone does not provide an acceptable ROI. There is also something to be said about the fact that consumers still enjoy interaction with real people when they grocery shop.

In order for RFID tags to work effectively there must also be electronic shelf labels to display price electronically making the price changing process automated (see www.tagnetics.com). The electronic shelf tags would provide the reduction in labor cost enabling the "stock boy" to be an educated store sales associate there to make a better shopper experience for the consumer.

[Twitchy @ Oct 11th 2007 2:55PM]

INteract with the staff at a supermarket? My dear lord man, where do you shop? I for one want to get through the checkout as fast as possible so that I don't need to expose myself to the 16 year old Emo/Goth "dude, you didn't buy any razor blades so that I can cut my wrists? I hate my life....lol" dick who drops the cans on the eggs and bags the toilet duck with the vegetables.

Snatch and run, that's where it's at. Snatch and run FTW.

[jrflesch @ Oct 11th 2007 3:09PM]

Twitchy,
go to a whole foods store for instance, or a wegmans.... The grocery stores that are always at the top of the list. They are at the top for ONE reason. They consider the needs of the consumer first and not just how much "tech" they have in house.

Part of MOST consumers needs are finding information about products. That could mean in-store location, nutritional facts or a comparison to a competitive product. The "high-end" grocery outlets train and implement personnel for this very reason.

At the same time their personnel are acting as a sales associate and driving product movement through the roof. In a low margin environment like the grocery market, product movement is everything!

[Mindi @ Oct 11th 2007 9:59AM]

I agree with the above statement that this is a solution for a problem we don't have. Enough will all the gadgets.

Next thing you know customers will be wanting to get sales alerts via txt message on their screen, and watch the daily news while grocery shopping. Who is gonna be the tech support for these machines? How is this profitable or energy efficient? What will happen if a customer (or their child) breaks the screen? What if someone tries to steal these screens?

Not a good idea at all.

[Mindi @ Oct 11th 2007 10:04AM]

I agree with the above statement that this is a solution for a problem we don't have. Enough will all the gadgets.

Next thing you know customers will be wanting to get sales alerts via txt message on their screen, and watch the daily news while grocery shopping. Who is gonna be the tech support for these machines? How is this profitable or energy efficient? What will happen if a customer (or their child) breaks the screen? What if someone tries to steal these screens?

Not a good idea at all.

[Richard @ Oct 11th 2007 10:58AM]

Why is the aisle so narrow? I think she triggered a booby-trap...

[Pete @ Oct 11th 2007 4:06PM]

Great idea? Moms and Dads are gonna be pissed when little Susie gets run over by a calorie counting shopper.

[webmail @ Oct 12th 2007 2:10AM]

Man! I designed this ACTUAL PRODUCT when I was back at Rhode Island School of Design in 2002:
http://www.projectfresh.com/downloads/smartcart/dougSANDclose.jpg
http://www.projectfresh.com/downloads/smartcart/fromFRONT.jpg

Back then it was pretty exciting. Not only could it just be informative but it actually would suggest things based on your health information and email you the recipes.

After the project MIT (ageLab) took the idea and never gave me credit - I never heard any more about it, until this post! haha!

NOTES:
- RFID is not yet feasible for the mass market - this was designed as a good interim product
- The device would be paid for by passive, and active advertising
- The device was originally designed with aging consumer in mind, who needed help keeping their diets healthy. but then again, who doesn't.
- It was a tiered interaction device:
1 - Passive Level - advertising, deals etc
2 - Active - Store information (e.g. "Where is brown sugar?" "You've bought honey smoked ham, why not try deli mustard - on special")
3 - Personal - Health based advice. After swiping your regular club card it could say "You should maintain a low cholesterol diet - why not try Baked Kettle Chips? Now on sale in aisle 3?"

I know the argument might be "Why more gadgets?" But when I saw my aging dad not taking care of himself it prompted the idea. It could help you with ingredients and email you the recipe to keep you healthy.

But hell yeah, give me the day when I just walk out of the super market and RFID takes care of everything :)

[jackie @ Oct 16th 2007 2:56PM]

interesting about tagnetics. what's the difference between these electronic shelf labels and others out there? for stores to get the value out of these little devices they need to buy into very pricey price optitmization software to the tune of millions.

[jrflesch @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:43AM]

Tagnetics' technology is different from other ESL systems out there because we do not power our tags with a battery. This allows the tag to have less components inside, be more powerful and more cost efficient. The tag is powered iductively from the rail that it snaps into. No metal connections to short out and the tag can handle substantial weather before incurring any kind of damage. Unfortunately other ESLs out there do not have this durability.

Current customers have determined that Tagnetics technology delivers a very compelling ROI. Because of this the busines is growing rapidly. If you would like to see one of these systems in the wild, head down to Austin, Houston, Dallas area. There is a chain sporting Tagnetics' goods down there.

[jackie @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:57AM]

interesting. i read recently where whole foods and HEB launched ELS technology in some of their TX stores. the reporter said it was tagnetics. these must be the stores you're referring to. i also read that W5 Networks launched their new ESL at Demo 06 in SF last fall, breaking the price barrier ($3.5 unit). you mentioned that without batteries in each unit, the costs are lower. do they compare to w5? i'll be interested to see how these changes in ESL technology change the retail space moving forward. from a sustainable standpoint, i'm all for it. what timeline do you see for full adoption of this technology? its been 15 years in the making already.