Israel-based computer vision company Trigo is partnering German supermarket giant REWE Group, one of Europe’s leading retailers and Germany’s second-largest food retail chains, to deliver a “pick and go” shopping experience to REWE customers in downtown Cologne.

The move marks Trigo’s entry into the German market, with REWE implementing a hybrid checkout-free experience under real conditions.

In addition to the solution for REWE, Trigo is also working with Tesco PLC, the largest grocery retailer in the UK, and Shufersal, Israel’s largest supermarket chain, among others, and is expanding its leading position in the frictionless shopping sector.

Using AI-powered computer vision and off-the-shelf hardware, Trigo transforms existing supermarkets and groceries into fully autonomous and digital stores. The company applies its proprietary algorithms to ceiling-mounted cameras which automatically learn and upload data on shoppers’ movements and product choices, enabling customers to simply walk into a store, pick up their desired items, and walk out without stopping at the checkout. Payments and receipts are settled digitally.

Trigo’s partnership with REWE has gone through the necessary aspects of Germany’s data protection regulations, some of the toughest in the world. Based on anonymised movement and product choice data, Trigo’s solution is built with a privacy-by-design architecture: where no biometric or facial recognition data are gathered or analysed.

Regular checkout will still be available for shoppers who prefer traditional checkout.

Michael Gabay, Trigo co-founder and CEO said: “Trigo is immensely proud and honoured to be rolling out its frictionless grocery shopping technology with REWE, one of Europe’s biggest and most innovative grocery retailers. REWE have placed their trust in Trigo’s privacy-by-design architecture, and we look forward to bringing this exciting technology to German grocery shoppers.”