Colruyt’s Easy Checkout Also Available for Other Retailers

Why It Matters

The technology promises faster, lower‑cost checkouts, giving retailers a scalable AI tool to boost efficiency and compete with emerging cashier‑less models.

Key Takeaways

• 20% faster checkout via AI scanning.
• Over 100 stores deployed; full Belgian rollout this year.
• Partner Tech Europe can sell system to other retailers.
• Caddy‑to‑caddy concept eliminates handheld scanners.
• Appealing for cash‑and‑carry and warehouse club formats.

Pulse Analysis

Colruyt’s Easy Checkout is part of a broader wave of AI‑driven point‑of‑sale solutions that aim to shrink the friction of traditional supermarket lanes. By mounting a high‑resolution camera above the shopping cart, the system captures barcodes and product images in real time, allowing the software to identify items without a handheld scanner. Early trials in 2023 showed a 20 % reduction in average checkout time, a gain that translates into higher throughput and better labor utilization for retailers facing thin margins. Competitors such as Amazon Go and Walmart’s Scan & Go have pursued similar vision, but Colruyt’s model leverages existing cart infrastructure, reducing deployment complexity.

The ‘caddy‑to‑caddy’ workflow is a distinctive twist on self‑service checkout. Employees transfer items from the customer’s cart to a second cart while the camera records each scan, effectively turning the cart into a moving conveyor belt. This design eliminates the need for expensive checkout furniture and reduces the physical strain on cashiers. Colruyt also bundles its proprietary image‑recognition engine, which can differentiate products even when barcodes are obscured, further enhancing accuracy and decreasing shrinkage. Retailers report a 15% reduction in hardware maintenance costs within the first six months of operation.

Granting Partner Tech Europe the rights to commercialize the technology opens the door for mid‑size chains, cash‑and‑carry operators, and warehouse clubs to adopt the solution without developing it in‑house. Interest at Euroshop suggests a market appetite for lower‑capex checkout upgrades, especially in formats with large basket sizes where speed gains are most valuable. If adoption accelerates, the industry could see a shift away from traditional scanner‑based lanes toward camera‑centric, AI‑powered checkout ecosystems. Combined with real‑time loyalty analytics, the system can trigger personalized offers at the point of exit, driving incremental sales.