Shufersal is the largest retail chain in Israel in strategic cooperation with the Israeli start-up Shopic, as part of which it will offer its customers a smart shopping cart based on artificial intelligence that enables personal and fast purchase without meeting queues and checkouts
Shufersal, the largest and leading retail chain in Israel, began several months ago with the deployment of the Israeli start-up solution Shopic, which has developed technology that will change the shopping experience of its millions of customers. Shufersal will gradually implement Shopic’s smart cart solution that detects any product coming in and out of the cart using cameras without the need to scan the products and also allows guides to guide buyers during the purchase, recommend products according to shopping habits, help them navigate the store according to the shopping list. They have to skip the queue and checkout.
Shopic’s solution, which is currently being implemented in several of the world’s leading retail chains, is based on a modular and convenient unit that can be mounted on any standard shopping cart. Buyers will be able to pick up the unit upon entering the store, assemble it on the cart with one click and make their purchase exactly as they did in the past, with two cameras on the fixture automatically detecting products that are inserted into or out of the cart. A large touch screen will communicate with buyers, guide them and recommend promotions and discounts to them. At the end of the purchase, the cart will sum up the bill. In the first phase of the deployment, buyers will pay at designated checkouts without a queue, but will soon be able to pay straight from the cart.
Unlike competing technologies, Shopic’s solution does not require a change in the store’s physical infrastructure, does not require a massive investment in new and expensive carts and allows the system to be deployed in any store within a few days. This is one of the only solutions available today for smart shopping that are suitable for large supermarkets and hypermarkets. Shopic’s smart unit is equipped with an artificial intelligence chip and an image recognition system that is able to learn to recognize new products while in use.
Zvika Fishheimer, VP of Human Resources and Strategy, Shufersal: “We are targeting the solution for our 200 large branches. The solution will be gradually implemented from the beginning of 2022.” We bring all the benefits of online shopping to our physical stores. Shopping will be more personal, targeted with relevant recommendations for each customer, while avoiding the least part “Favorite of the customers – standing in line at the checkout. Shopic has developed a solution with us that meets all these needs.”
Raz Golan, CEO of Shopic said: ‘One of the most important things in developing technologies for the retail market is a deep understanding of the area, of the operational challenges and unique needs of stores. That is why the cooperation with Shufersal is of critical importance to us. Shufersal is not only the largest retail chain in the country but also a leader in innovation in the industry. Thanks to the daring and openness of the chain, we will be able to take the Israeli buyer to the next generation of the shopping experience. “
Shufersal participated in the last round of investment in Shopic, which was established in 2016 by Raz Golan and Eran Kravitz. The company’s offices are located in Tel Aviv and it employs dozens of people. In addition to Shufersal, the company also invested in the IBI Tech Fund, Entrée Capital and Claridge Israel.
