Carrefour Belgium has inaugurated its third AI-powered micro-store concept, Carrefour BuyBye, in partnership with retail technology company Reckon.AI.
The latest addition is situated within the Nato Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE ) HQ, a military base in Belgium that is home to more than 16,000 alliance members.
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The store operates 24/7, providing items such as breakfast with fresh fruit options, lunch, dinner and personal care products, described by Reckon.ai CEO Ana Pinto in a LinkedIn post.
These items are replenished by staff from Carrefour Market Casteau.
The store enables customers to leave without manual checkout, as purchases are processed automatically.
The Casteau outlet has 12 smart entry points, making it the “most advanced and expansive set-up to date”.
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By GlobalDataReckon.ai (Hiring) chief technology officer and co-founder Paulo Ribeiro said: “This marks a new chapter for Carrefour BuyBye and Reckon.ai, proving that AI-powered autonomous retail is ready for the world’s most demanding environments.”
The opening of this store follows Reckon.ai’s securing of a European patent that acknowledges the distinctiveness of its fundamental technology which powers AI-driven smart cabinets.
Ana Pinto stated: “Being granted with an European patent is a huge milestone for our team and is a powerful validation of what we’ve always believed in and worked for: the uniqueness of the core technology behind our AI-powered smart cabinets.
“We’ve been pioneers in this space – one of the first to create and deliver truly intelligent, autonomous retail units – and this patent reinforces our role as innovators shaping the future of unattended retail.
“This recognition adds a new layer of strength and trust for our partners, investors and customers, and fuels our ambition for what’s coming next.”
Carrefour Belgium recently selected grocery retail technology solutions provider StrongPoint to streamline in-store picking to fulfil scheduled online orders.
