Smart Cart Technology Transforms Physical Retail into Measurable Media Channel

A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: AZ) is transforming physical retail from a historical data blind spot into a fully measurable environment through its smart cart platform, as discussed in a recent Customerland podcast featuring Editor-in-Chief Mike Giambattista and Cust2Mate CMO Yaniv Zukerman. The technology focuses less on hardware and more on enabling a new attributable in-store channel powered by continuous behavioral signals that create a stream of first-party data.

By integrating cart-mounted screens, on-cart payment systems, loyalty programs, pricing information, and POS systems, Cust2Mate turns shopping trips into measurable experiences that improve labor efficiency, reduce checkout friction, and drive larger basket sizes through increased shopper confidence and engagement. The platform's modular, all-in-one detachable panels can transform existing shopping cart fleets into intelligent platforms that bridge online and in-store shopping through interactive technology.

According to Giambattista, the most significant development is the emergence of performance-grade in-store retail media. When a screen is tied to a known shopper, it becomes a persistent, contextual, closed-loop channel where uploaded lists, dwell time, product scans, and item removals act as intent cues that trigger dynamic offers and decision recovery. This capability closes the historic gap between retail media and trade spend, giving consumer packaged goods brands verified influence at the moment of choice.

Giambattista suggests that physical retail may surpass digital measurement quality within two years, provided retailers maintain strict stewardship of shopper trust, privacy, and data governance. The AI-driven smart carts personalize every in-store journey, turning routine shopping trips into engaging, rewarding experiences while enabling seamless in-cart scanning and payment that allows shoppers to bypass checkout lines.

The technology delivers real-time customized offers and product recommendations through multiple layers of security for accurate recognition and transaction integrity. This enhanced customer experience boosts satisfaction and loyalty while helping retailers streamline operations and optimize merchandising through data-driven insights available in the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/AZ.

For the retail industry, this development represents a fundamental shift in how physical stores can compete with digital platforms by creating measurable, attributable media channels within the shopping environment. The implications extend to marketing effectiveness, inventory management, and customer relationship building, potentially reshaping how brands allocate advertising budgets between digital and physical retail spaces.