UK retail shifts toward automation as robots and smart carts hit shelves

Tesco recently finalized the first stage of a major automation project, deploying cleaning robots across 600 Express stores. Designed as co-bots, these machines handle floor maintenance, allowing staff to pivot toward customer service. This follows a broader industry trend toward in-store robotics, with Tesco also trialing Simbe’s Tally robot for shelf scanning and price accuracy—a technology previously tested by Morrisons.

Morrisons is simultaneously pushing its own digital transformation. The grocer has introduced Instacart’s Caper Cart smart trolleys at its Preston location, marking the first UK deployment of the AI-driven units. These carts automatically weigh fresh produce and track basket totals, aiming to streamline the checkout process. Furthermore, Morrisons has reached a milestone by installing digital shelf-edge labels in 100 stores, a move designed to eliminate manual paper updates and guide staff through online picking tasks.

Beyond the UK grocery sector, international retail technology is gathering pace. Lidl has expanded its loyalty app to the US, reaching over 120 million users globally. Meanwhile, food-tech platform Wonder secured $650 million in Series D funding, and Butlin’s became the first holiday resort operator to deploy Boxbar automated self-serve bar terminals. These investments underscore a wider push to integrate artificial intelligence into the physical workforce, with startups like Augmodo raising $21 million to enhance worker capabilities through wearable AI.