Kroger testing interactive shelf technology in Cincinnati area

In an initiative to automate and personalize the in-store shopping experience, Cincinnati-based The Kroger Co. is testing “digital shelf edge” technology in certain Cincinnati area stores, according to a Jan. 20 blog posting on the Wall Street Journal’s online edition.

Shelf sensors detect shoppers through their smart phones, draw on data analytics collected on individuals during prior Kroger visits at the point of sale, and read customers’ mobile shopping lists to help them navigate the store. If the shelf detects that a customer is looking for gluten-free pasta, for example, and is in the pasta aisle, the shelf technology will alert the shopper to the location of those items.

The technology also enables Kroger to offer customized pricing to shoppers based on their purchasing history.

“We want to bring technology to life in the store,” Chris Hjelm, Kroger’s chief information officer, told the Wall Street Journal.

To learn more, read the posting at http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2017/01/20/kroger-tests-sensors-analytics-in-interactive-grocery-shelves.