Delray Beach, Fla. – September 28, 2026 -- The global smart shopping cart market is projected to grow from $0.59 billion in 2026 to $1.65 billion by 2032, a compound annual growth rate of 18.7%, according to new data from MarketsandMarkets. The market stood at $0.33 billion in 2025, reflecting near-doubling growth in a single year as retailers accelerate deployment of AI-enabled carts to automate checkout and deepen in-store digital engagement.
Supermarkets drive fastest segment growth as grocers digitize routine shopping trips
The supermarkets application segment is forecast to post the highest CAGR at 19.4%, outpacing other retail formats. High-frequency grocery visits create repeated opportunities for smart carts to deliver digital shopping lists, product-location guidance, basket monitoring and personalized offers. Retailers are using these capabilities to cross-sell complementary products and reinforce loyalty programs during routine trips, particularly across North America and other developed grocery markets.
Fully integrated carts capture largest share as chains standardize hardware
Fully integrated smart carts, which combine cameras, sensors, computing, displays and payment processing into a single device, are set to command the largest market size through 2032. Large grocery chains undertaking store modernization favor this architecture for consistent deployment across multiple locations, despite higher upfront costs than retrofit alternatives. Caper Carts and Amazon Dash Cart illustrate the growing commercial traction of purpose-built platforms that merge product recognition with transaction processing.
North America holds 42.4% share while Asia Pacific emerges as fastest-growing region
North America accounted for 42.4% of the market in 2026, the largest regional share. Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest regional growth rate, driven by retail infrastructure modernization in China, Japan, South Korea and India, alongside a strong e-commerce ecosystem pushing digital capabilities such as mobile payments and personalized recommendations into physical stores.
Cust2Mate secures $105 million in combined orders from Yochananof and Carrefour Israel
Commercial deployment is scaling rapidly. A2Z Cust2Mate secured a $55 million order from Yochananof in 2025 and a $50 million, five-year agreement with Carrefour Israel in 2026, signaling a shift from early-stage technology trials toward large commercial contracts. Shopic raised $35 million in a 2022 Series B round, bringing its total funding to roughly $56 million, to expand its AI-enabled cart solution across global grocery markets.
Instacart's Caper AI acquisition reshapes vendor consolidation strategy
Instacart's October 2021 acquisition of Caper AI integrated AI-powered smart carts and checkout technology into Instacart's retailer enablement platform, combining in-store hardware with existing e-commerce, fulfillment and loyalty capabilities. Deal activity in the sector has concentrated on absorbing cart technology into broader retail platforms rather than consolidating standalone hardware manufacturers.
Vendors pivot from hardware sales to recurring subscription and data revenue
Cust2Mate is moving toward multiyear subscription arrangements combining upfront and recurring per-cart fees for hardware, software, maintenance and support. Its contracts now incorporate monthly per-cart charges, advertising and revenue-sharing components tied to retail media and data services, a structural shift expected to improve revenue visibility for vendors and reduce reliance on one-time hardware transactions across deployed cart fleets.