Morrisons brings Instacart smart trolleys to UK retail

Toby Pickard, Retail Futures Senior Partner at IGD, recently tested the technology and described the experience as intuitive and seamless. According to Pickard, the onboarding process is supported by simple video tutorials on the trolley's touchscreen, allowing shoppers to transition into their regular routine within minutes. The carts automatically recognize items as they are added, display a running total to assist with budgeting, and provide notifications for relevant promotions.

This pilot bridges the gap between digital and physical retail by bringing online features like personalized recommendations and inventory visibility into the aisle. By automating tasks such as weighing loose produce, the system removes friction from the checkout process. While currently limited to the Preston location, the technology has already seen deployment across more than 100 cities in the US and Australia, with major retailers including Kroger and Coles among the early adopters.