Starting this spring, Ahold Delhaize will be using automated vehicles at their American Stop & Shop stores. This vehicle will not only bring people's groceries to their front doors. It will also give them the chance to choose, and pay for, products.
For this, Stop & Shop is partnering with Robomart. This company introduced the self-driving vehicle last year. Stop & Shop customers can call the little cart via an app. When the cart arrives, the customers have to unlock the door. They can then choose the products they want.
They then lock the door and the system registers which products were chosen. Mobile payment is done automatically and the customer receives a digital receipt.
Initially, the 'Robomart' will deliver supermarket products such as meal packs in Boston and the surrounding areas. The refrigerated vehicle is remote controlled. It will be stocked with fresh products via its route.