NanoMalaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), today debuted its EzyCart smart shopping carts via Redtick Supermarket in Alamanda Mall, Putrajaya. Originally introduced as a proof of concept last year, today’s official launch marks the first time for the company’s AI-powered technology to be available to the public.
EzyCart is developed by NanoMalaysia in collaboration with Retailetics Sdn Bhd, a company that specialises in artificial intelligence-based retail automation solutions. While a first in Malaysia, similar technologies have already been introduced in other countries prior to this. One such example is Amazon’s Dash Cart, which debuted in 2020 and was gradually rolled out to its own Fresh grocery chains as well as Whole Foods Market stores in the US.
Unlike traditional carts, the NanoMalaysia’s smart shopping cart features a connected touchscreen dashboard, and a three-point product validation system which consists of a barcode scanner, weight/load validation, as well as advanced deep learning and sensor fusion technologies. According to the agency, the latter leverages on “the latest processing semiconductor-based solutions powered by nanotechnology”, enabling shoppers to “effortlessly navigate stores, locate products, and enjoy a hassle-free checkout process.”
Additionally, the smart shopping carts are also said to feature “nano-based antibacterial technology” on their surrounding surfaces. NanoMalaysia says these would ensure that EzyCarts remain clean at all times.
As mentioned earlier, the carts are always connected; allowing for customer profile synchronisation, points collection, immediate display of product information and pricing, as well as cashless payments. There’s even a Recipe tab that recommends shoppers a list of various ingredients or products that are available in-store that are required to prepare certain dishes. Retailetics CEO and co-founder Manirajah Kulanthavelu explains that all EzyCarts available at Redtick Supermarket Alamanda (10 in total) currently rely on the store’s Wi-Fi connection, with plans to include support for 5G in the near future.
To use the smart shopping carts, customers are first required to log in to the dashboard with their mobile number, ezyList, or Redtick member card. The latter of which is done by scanning the card with the onboard barcode scanner. Once signed in, they can proceed to shop by scanning the desired items and then adding them to the EzyCart’s basket.
For purchasing more than one of the same product, users can easily add or reduce quantities on the touchscreen. On that note, the sensors on the basket are able to detect whether there are discrepancies in the order, especially if the inputted quantity is incorrect. After finalising, customers can pay directly via the cart by simply tapping their credit or debit card on the screen. Kulanthavelu noted that e-wallet support is still not available just yet, but there are plans to include the feature.
When asked about EzyCart’s potential rollout to other Redtick branches as well as other stores in Malaysia, both NanoMalaysia and Retailetics say that there are no plans for an expansion just yet. However, both companies are optimistic that the smart shopping cart technology will be introduced to even more local supermarkets eventually.
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