AiFi partners with Wundermart to boost autonomous c-stores

Wundermart plans to open over 1,000 locations equipped with AiFi’s AI-powered technology.

Wundermart is a Dutch retailer with 70 unmanned stores | © Wundermart facebook

AiFI, an expert in frictionless autonomous shopping, will partner with Wundermart to roll out 20 autonomous convenience stores in the first quarter of 2021.

Wundermart will implement AiFi's computer vision technology into existing stores in Europe to enhance the shopping experience, remove friction at checkout, improve inventory management, and deliver in-depth consumer insights.

In the near future, Wundermart and Wunderware plan to open more than 1000 locations equipped with AiFi's technology.

"The pandemic has caused everything in our lives to shift, including how we shop. This shift made innovation a requirement, which is why we are pleased to partner with Wundermart to make its unmanned marketplaces entirely contactless," said Steve Gu, co-founder and CEO of AiFi.

"Our computer vision technology enhances Wundermart's convenient in-store experience and enables shoppers to continue on with their everyday lives in a safe and efficient manner,” adds Gu.

AiFi's camera-only solution allows retailers to offer a different shopping experience while delivering product recognition, shopper tracking, and receipt accuracy. AiFi's OASIS is trained to recognize thousands of SKUs with pinpoint accuracy including shelved products of any size and food that is warm, frozen, or fresh, as well as dispensed drinks and more.

Loop NanoStore at Shell gas station | © Loop

Computer vision to allow autonomous shopping, also at gas stations

Up until now Wundermart customers at some 70 stores had to scan each products themselves and then pay at the self-checkout kiosk. With AiFi’s autonomous shopping model customers can choose to either scan their store app or credit card at the kiosk before or after grabbing their desired items. Customers can then walk out of the store in similar fashion to Amazon Go stores.

"The system will also be used to improve accuracy of automated restocking, one of the many functions in our total solution for autonomous retail. AiFi has pioneered and become the global leader in computer vision technology. This partnership will bring us closer to our mission to transform the future of retail,” said Laurens de Kleine, co-founder of Wundermart.

In January, AiFi provided the technology for the first autonomous gas station convenience store in the world, a Loop store at a Shell site in Silicon Valley. The store provides 24/7 convenience with fast walk in/walk out customer experience, based on AiFi’s Nanostore template. AiFi and Loop plan to open more gas station NanoStores in the coming months, according to both companies.

“The new autonomous Loop Neighborhood store is a wonderful step forward for our store brand. We strive to deliver a satisfying, enjoyable and convenient experience to our customers every time they enter one of our stores,” said Varish Goyal, President of Loop Neighborhood, at the time.

Despite Amazon getting most of the press for autonomous, grab-and-go retail stores, AiFi is rapidly expanding its autonomous retail technology across the globe working with retailers such as Loop, Carrefour, Albert Heijn and Zabka. The future of retail may be here, and it be may not be Amazon’s.