New technology took center stage at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show this month, with thousands of exhibitors featuring tech innovations for every part of the supermarket from supply chain to the checkout lane.
The show featured new smart carts, retail media networks, warehouse and inventory robots, AI-powered shrink prevention technology, and more. Supermarket News made the rounds and spoke with some of the most cutting edge companies in the industry. See more in our video roundup.
Shrink and theft prevention
Auror
Auror’s license plate recognition technology is used by top brick-and-mortar retailers like Walmart and Best Buy. The AI-powered cameras can detect the moment repeat offenders enter the parking lot.
Signifi Solutions
The company’s locking shelf technology protects shoplifting of high-priced items like wine and liquor and can be locked and unlocked wirelessly from any area of the store.
Smart cart technology
Easy Shopper
This smart cart technology, which is already deployed at more than 180 stores in Germany, aims to give Instacart’s Caper Cart technology a run for their money. The AI-powered carts are available in two models, one which can be retrofitted to existing carts.
Robotics
Apptronik
This Austin, Texas-based robotics company is already deploying its robotic workers in warehouses across the nation.
Vici Robotics
Vici robots travel the aisles of the store after hours replenishing inventory for a fully stocked supermarket by opening time the next day.
Badger Technologies
Marty the Robot, which updates store inventory using artificial intelligence, has probably received more fanfare than any other grocery tech innovation in recent years. It’s all on account of the googly eyes, according to BJ Santiago, CEO of Badger Technologies.
Retail Media Networks
Ricoh USA
Ricoh launched its nut-to-soup retail media network solution at NRF this year. The video marketing solution could pose a big challenge to in-store video operations launched in recent years.