The Amazon Dash Cart, first released in September 2020 to enable shoppers to make grocery trips quicker by skipping the checkout line, is getting an update that will be piloted at the Whole Foods Market in Westford, Massachusetts. The cart features a system to identify items placed into it, along with a screen to view the receipt and pay from the device.
The new version of the Dash Cart:
• Weighs less than the previous version with double the capacity
• Has both delicate shelves and oversized shelves
• Is weather resistant and can leave the store and travel to the car
• Has a screen that will display images of fresh items nearby for shoppers to choose from
• Has improved geolocation technology to better determine where in the store the shopper is, showing relevant information accordingly
• Has longer battery life which means the products can be more readily available to customers
"As many of our customers return to their in-store grocery shopping routines, it's exciting to introduce new and unique ways for them to shop our stores," said Leandro Balbinot, chief technology officer for Whole Foods Market, in a statement. "We're thrilled that the newest version of Dash Cart will debut in our Westford store and can't wait to hear the feedback from our customers there."
Shoppers are required to login to the Amazon or Whole Foods app via a scannable QR code on the Dash Cart. At the end of the trip, the payment is processed using the credit card associated with their account, and the receipt is sent directly via email.
Related: Whole Foods Plans New Jersey Store; Amazon To Launch Retail Store Analytics Service