The grab-and-go future of grocery shopping in Switzerland
Being able to buy milk, eggs, toilet paper and other everyday necessities around the clock in an autonomously functioning supermarket may soon become a reality in Switzerland.
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The Bern-based start-up AI Retailer Systems is developing a computer-vision-based platform that could transform how you go about getting your groceries. After telling the system how you want to pay, you'd simply grab what you want, with ceiling-mounted cameras and sensors keeping track of which items wind up in your cart, and then walk right out when you're done, with your payment method automatically charged!
Cutting costs by up to 80 per cent
Alejandro García and Maran Pereirasamy spun the start-up off of ETH Zurich and the University of St.Gallen (HSG) in 2018. Driven by the question of why self-driving cars are already around but you still have to drive dozens of kilometres sometimes just to get some milk, they came up with this idea of how to make convenience stores truly convenient. In October 2019, they founded AI Retailer Systems. Eight employees are now developing the technology, with talks under way in Switzerland to set up the first stores jointly with retailers.
The AI Retailer Systems team
Thanks to the ETH and HSG spin-off’s grab-and-go software platform, the stores will only need a few employees to stock the shelves and arrange the groceries. The start-up's team touts the system's lean AI tech and easy installation. Its self-managing automation can prevent shoplifting and increase sales by over 30%. For small stores in particular, CEO and founder Garcia predicts staff savings of up to 80%:
Our concept not only boosts retailers' efficiency and provides their customers with 24/7 service – especially important in rural areas. It also gives retailers valuable data on their customers' purchasing behaviour, allowing them to test new product ranges faster and with more insightful analytics.
Global trend towards autonomous supermarkets
The idea of such supermarkets is not entirely new: more and more retailers around the world are testing tech solutions that make shopping more efficient. The best-known competitors include Amazon Go in the US and BingoBox in China. According to Verified Market Research, the global retail automation market was valued at USD 13.97 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 31.81 billion by 2028, growing at a rate of 11% each year from 2021 to 2028.
AI Retailer Systems recently won CHF 150,000 from VentureKick that it will use to kick-start its tech development and market entry.