Kroger Tests Mobile Scanning That Tracks Customer Traffic Patterns

At two supermarkets near its Cincinnati headquarters, Kroger is testing a mobile scanning system that uses wireless devices for both shoppers and store associates. The system also tracks in-store traffic patterns, revealing what paths shoppers take through the store, the shelves they stop at and now long they stay in each location.

The Enhanced Checkout solution was developed in-house by Kroger, according to Planet Retail. Hardware includes self-scanning devices for customers and mobile terminals for staff, both run on a wireless network that uses the ZigBee standard.

Kroger is also testing its Advanced Checkout system, a "tunnel" equipped with optical scanners, at its store in Hebron, KY. Fujitsu, manufacturer of that technology, displayed it at the NRF Big Show in January.