The technological developer Sensei and the Portuguese food company Sonae MC, current owner of the Continente brand, have inaugurated the first autonomous supermarket in Europe. Baptized as Continente Labs, this store facilitates the purchase through a mobile application. It is a system similar to the North American Amazon GO stores that have opened in the United Kingdom.
Located in the center of Lisbon, the establishment opened to the public on May 26. In appearance, it is a normal supermarket, but it has turnstiles to enter, it does not have the usual line of checkouts and the shelves are wrapped with a technological system of up to 400 sensors. In addition, the premises are monitored by more than 200 cameras.
The purchase is made through the Continente Labs application, which acts as a digital payment method. The application generates a QR code that allows users to enter the store, pick up the items and leave, without the need to scan products or stand in lines waiting to pay. It is a new system that allows the automation of new and existing stores, providing a fast, convenient and seamless shopping experience.
This shopping experience is based on an integrated system that combines cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms. A method that tracks consumers’ movements as they pick up or remove items from their shopping list: the basket is updated in real time as the product is picked up or returned to the shelf. The digital receipt is then received in the app almost immediately after purchase. Payment will be automatic by registering a card in the application.
“Since meeting Sensei at the end of 2018, we have been extremely excited and committed to rethinking the in-store shopping experience together. It has been a joy and a constant learning process for both parties, having solved complex technology challenges and continually improved our business processes. The opening of this store marks an important milestone in what is sure to be a long and fruitful partnership between both companies,” said Frederico Santos, Director of Innovation and Digital Transformation at Sonae MC.
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