It is an innovative experience, with hybrid modality that combines the face -to -face in purchase with virtuality in payment. In a context of high inflation and wide variety of shops and offers, the new proposals to attract consumers to the supermarkets and neighborhood premises are the order of the day.

In this sense, the Carrefour supermarket multinational chain launched in Argentina a new “smart store” format that was previously successful in France. The system implements a mix, since it provides the consumer's possibility to select the merchandise in person in the sales premises and, at the same time, avoid the long lines that are usually formed in the boxes sector at the time of paying.

In this way, the customer must only choose the products, load them in their cart and forget about payment because it will be done automatically, agile and simplely. The benefits translate into comfort and time gained.

Artificial Intelligence at the service of everyday life
In Argentina, this first experience in a supermarket chain, has the name of Carrefour Flash and the 50 -square -meter store is located in the town of Pilar, in the province of Buenos Aires.

From the French company they point out that this launch "is part of a new generation of stores that uses artificial intelligence to offer customers a more accessible and fast purchase experience."

In fact, in the smart store technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) is applied, and as great innovation it does not have the traditional box sector. In this way you avoid spending hours away to make home.

How does the intelligent purchase work?
The new smart store format that promises to make purchases in record time, works through an application. Before going to the premises, the customer must download the “Mini Go” application, available for iOS and Android, create an account and load associated with that account a credit or debit card that will be used as a means of payment at the time of making the purchase effective.

Once this first step has been completed and already in the premises, the QR code located on the access door will have to scan. From there in more, you will only have to concentrate on selecting the products you need, because the sensors will make the rest.

With the help of artificial intelligence, through sensors located in the gondolas and with the visual recognition tool, the products selected in person by the client that will take them directly from the shelves, are loading automatically in a virtual cart. As the consumer charges its physical cart, one is also loaded with the same virtual content.

In this way, when you finish choosing the products to the customer, it only remains to withdraw at your home, because the total sum for the purchase will be paid automatically and without the need for face -to -face payment. In fact in the new intelligent place there are no cashiers who receive payments for sales.

Just by approaching the exit door, the system automatically generates the operation closure and the collection of the total sum using the means of payment registered in the application. Being a system that operates as online payment, respects all the safety conditions and personal data protection laws that Carrefour applies to sales both in its physical and virtual stores.

"The store has an assortment of 500 products that cover the basic needs of an average daily purchase. This new format puts into practice the idea of ​​a model with an agile purchase experience, in which it is not necessary to scan the codes of the products and the payment maintains the same simplicity and security standards as the online payment in the e-commerce," they explain from the company.

In turn, the application can be used to make online purchases and then remove merchandise at the premises or request your home shipping.

Sensors and visual recognition
According to the times that are lived, where artificial intelligence is the protagonist, Pilar's new intelligent place, how much inside with 20 HD cameras, approximately 200 sensors integrated to the gondolas, an algorithm specially created to read and interpret all the data and an own payment system.

Due to the tools and technology with which the premises were installed, it already needs to have a sector of boxes or personnel for attention or collection of sales made at the branch. However, it has physical or virtual assistance for cases where personal assistance or help is required.

Strategic Alliance with an Argentine Startup
The key to these innovations in a present full of future, is in strategic alliances among pioneer companies in artificial technology and intelligence. In this way, the new purchase format, technologically one of the most advanced in the world, was possible thanks to the alliance with a local technological.

"Go2future, is an Argentine startup that provides artificial intelligence based solutions to eliminate friction in modern retail. In technological association with Carrefour Argentina we develop the first autonomous store in the chain in Argentina," said Eduardo Luis Koglot, CEO of Go2future.

At the moment, it will be a pilot test and the Pilar smart store will be used to evaluate the degree of acceptance of the public in the local market.

MVB FM / Perfil / Gabriela Maidana