Atlanta-based NCR Voyix is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the shopping experience at UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s.

The seven-year agreement expands the grocer’s more than 20-year partnership with NCR Voyix.

Sainsbury’s is upgrading its checkout technology by rolling out NCR’s commerce platform, point of sale (PoS) and self-checkout systems to 22,500 checkouts across its supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations. These technologies, powered by NCR’s edge software, provide innovations for Sainsbury’s customers and staff.

Leveraging NCR cloud technology, Sainsbury’s will be able to speed up the customer journey by receiving real-time data and analytics while harnessing the power of AI for sales analysis, estimating future store performance, staff productivity and cash management.

The platform will let employees approve transactions remotely via tablet, speeding up the checkout process and enhancing the shopping experience. Additionally, the self-checkout systems, powered by AI, will deliver personalised promotions tailored to each customer.

“Our commitment to unbeatable quality food and great service, whether in store or online, is strengthened by NCR Voyix technology,” said Clodagh Moriarty, Sainsbury’s chief echnology director. “NCR Voyix has grown alongside Sainsbury’s for two decades, unlocking new capabilities and optimising product management, sales forecasting and store efficiencies. This is driving us to the next level and delivers for customers, colleagues and shareholders.”

Eric Schoch, executive vice president at NCR Voyix, added: “We aim to operate at the speed of consumers, if not faster, striking to outpace the market and keep our customers ahead of the curve with configurable, scalable and smart technology. With our modern software-first approach, Sainsbury’s can implement rapid changes at much lower costs, run services in the cloud while the store can operate self-checkout at the speed of digital channel.”

With a fully hosted, edge-enabled PoS system deployed by NCR Voyix, Sainsbury’s has the flexibility to adapt to market trends quickly, eliminating in-store complexities and paving the way for innovative digital and in store experiences for customers.

NCR Voyix (www.ncrvoyix.com) is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and provides digital commerce technology for the retail, restaurant and digital banking industries.

Sainsbury’s (www.sainsburys.co.uk) opened its first store in 1869. Today, it has almost 600 supermarkets and over 800 convenience stores.