Waitrose is working in partnership with US-based start-up Hiku to be the first retailer to trial home scanning in the UK.
Hiku is an innovative home scanning solution that will enable Waitrose customers to populate their electronic Waitrose.com shopping basket, by either scanning a product barcode or speaking a product name into the Hiku device, which has a voice to text recognition capability.
Hiku gives customers a simple way of compiling or adding to their Waitrose.com list and is the first shopping solution in the UK that combines helpful technology in the kitchen with the convenience of online shopping.
Hiku is a small, palm sized device that can be conveniently attached to a fridge or kept in and around the home for all the family to use. Items can be added as they are taken out of the fridge, or customers can speak ingredients from recipes as they plan their dinner. If customers prefer to add items on the go when out of the home, an app on their phone also allows them to update their order.
Waitrose employees (known as Partners) and customer focus groups will be trialling the Hiku device this month. An extensive in-home trial is planned for early 2015.
The Hiku trial is the first example of a new Waitrose programme which prioritises innovation and formalises the organisation’s market-leading approach to technology. “Waitrose Hot Ideas” puts ideas front and centre in Waitrose's search for convenient technological solutions for our customers.
The programme also aims to involve customers from as early on in product development as possible, testing products with focus groups and trials so that our customers can provide feedback and refine the idea throughout the process.
