Retail

Georgia market taps UST to launch hybrid autonomous supermarket with robotic delivery

Image provided by iStock.

February 2, 2022

Nourish + Bloom Market in Fayetteville, Georgia, an African American owned grocery store, has partnered with UST, a digital transformation solutions provider, to launch its first frictionless grocery store in the U.S., according to a press release.

Entry to the autonomous section is enabled by the UST-built customer mobile app via scanning a QR Code on the entrance turnstile. The items selected by the consumers are automatically added to a virtual shopping cart tracked via LIDAR camera, and the information is sent to a backend software built by UST.

The store uses UST Vision Checkout, a self-checkout that uses computer vision to identify SKUs, along with voice and gesture technology. UST Vision Checkout also has bar code scanning and touchscreen functionality that takes care of specific merchandise sections like age-restricted products, frozen assortment and fruits and vegetables.

In addition:

• Nourish & Bloom has deployed UST Scan & Go solution for specific events and customer types.
• UST Product Box facilitates quick onboarding of SKUs requiring computer vision training.
• UST Cold Truth provides IoT-based, real-time food temperature measurement at shelf level.
• UST Store offers a media digital display solution in the store's Bistro section.

The system also integrates with robotic delivery systems from DAX robotics for last-mile delivery.

In addition, UST has built an e-commerce application for Nourish + Bloom.

Nourish + Bloom Market plans to deploy more than 500 stores in the U.S. Tech partners also include Hitachi Vantara and Shekel Brainweigh Ltd.