Just weeks after Amazon announced it was replacing just-walk-out technology with smart shopping cards at its Fresh supermarkets, Aldi, with partner Grabango, announced it is using a similar technology in one of the grocery retailer’s stores in Aurora, IL, near Chicago.
As it launched ALDIgo checkout-free shopping at the Chicago-area grocery store, Grabango noted that Aldi is the first major grocery retailer in the United States to deploy checkout-free technology in an existing, full-size store.
The Grabango added its just-walk-out system to the Aurora Aldi without making any changes to the store’s planogram or product displays. The Grabango system uses computer vision to identify and track every item in the store, allowing shoppers to exit without waiting in line or scanning items.
To use ALDIgo, customers shop as they normally do for their weekly groceries, including fresh meat and seafood, organic produce, pantry staples and Aldi Finds. The Gragango system requires no special shelves, carts or gates at the entrance. When done shopping, consumers can pay with either their credit or debit card, with the Grabango app or at the Grabango pay station near the exit. Shoppers retain the option to check out with a traditional cashier.
“It’s exciting to see a checkout-free capability live in one of our stores,” said Eric Traxler, Aldi vice president, IT. “Aldi is continuously looking for new ways to be innovative and provide a best-in-class experience for our shoppers, and ALDIgo is a great example of that in action.”
Will Glaser, Grabango CEO, added, “The launch of ALDIgo is a pivotal moment for the grocery industry. Although more challenging, it was important to us to launch this technology in a typical store and not one purpose-built for us. Aldi is one of the most innovative retailers in the world, and we are honored to partner with them to give their shoppers an exciting new way to shop the store.”
