General Motors' (GM) BrightDrop announced the Trace Grocery, an electrified cart (eCart), as reported by Electrek.
(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 04: The General Motors logo is displayed at a Chevrolet dealership on August 4, 2021 in Burbank, California. In spite of a computer chip shortage, General Motors (GM) posted a $2.8 billion net profit in the second quarter.
BrightDrop is GM's commercial brand and has unveiled a new product. The eCart is designed to help grocery employees in the workplace ensure all orders are fulfilled quickly before they get picked up by customers. In fact, Kroger plans to get a new product for its grocery chain.
BrightDrop Trace has long been promoted as a delivery cart for logistics companies, but things have changed as the brand announced the eCart, that is designed for groceries and aims to support the online ordering industry.
Trace Grocery - eCart
In a press release, BrightDrop shared details about the eCart. For one, it is customized to support grocery employees in fulfilling orders through technology. It will let employees place an order directly into specific unit compartments before it is parked curbside for the customer. From there, the customer can pull up the new eCart to access their groceries.
Aside from that, other key features of Trace Grocery include temperature management for food storage at food-safe temps for up to four hours, propulsion assistance to assist employees in moving up to 350 lbs. of groceries, auto-braking, nine compartments, and weatherproofing.
Currently, there is limited availability for the eCart, but it should be fully available by 2024. Kroger has completed an initial pilot program in their Kentucky store and reported positive results.
Also Read: 5,000 BrightDrop Electric Vans by GM Ordered by Walmart as FedEx Adds 1,500 Vans to Current Order
The Rise of Online Grocery Orders
Grocery stores have been around for decades, but the way how people shop for groceries has changed. Today, many people would prefer to shop for groceries online and then pick up their purchases at a physical store.
The shift in how people shop has led to the disruption of the grocery industry as a whole. Now, grocery stores will have to find new ways to compete with online orders. This also extends to customers who will have more options to choose from now.
The electrified cart is one way to address the increasing demand. With technology improving, it will be no surprise if grocery stores will become more accessible through technology.
BrightDrop, for one, is one of the brands that is taking the lead to provide the best solutions for each need. For instance, the eCart designed for grocery stores is a sign that there is a demand for such products in the market.
More and more grocery stores are expanding their online grocery shopping services, and this would definitely change the industry. BrightDrop, which partnered with Kroger, is set to make the biggest impact in the industry.
The electrified cart will make things easier for employees, and it is just a matter of time before it becomes more common.
Related Article: CES 2022: GM Advances EV Automotive Concepts With Ultium and Ultifi
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Written by April Fowell
