The concept came out of the ground after 18 months of work, which saw Monoprix collaborate with several technological partners.Israeli Shekel Brainweigh was approached for its advanced sensor system, recognized for their ability to precisely measure the weights of items on the shelves (and thus identify those removed).
The payment system is the work of Ingenico and Oreka, a Reunion-based company that publishes open source collection software.
If the technological contributions come from external service providers, the BlackBox project has indeed been incubated internally at Casino.
“This project, built from A to Z internally, is an additional step for the fluidity of the customer journey.It marks the ambition to test a technology that makes customers autonomous in this journey, ”explains Martin Camels, innovation director of the Casino group.
If the purpose of streamlining the BlackBox customer journey is similar to what Amazon Go offers, the technological perimeters differ somewhat.Amazon, a pioneer in the standalone and automated store industry, developed (and now sold the technology) Just Walk Out, a technology based entirely on a camera system.
These, coupled with artificial intelligence, make it possible to associate a consumer with the products that he takes from the shelves, or puts back on the shelves.Amazon is also a partner of Monoprix which offers services via Prime Now.
In just 48 years after launching on Prime Now, the brand was already overwhelmed by the quantity of orders.
Unlike Amazon Go, BlackBox containers are camera-less, in order to comply with GDPR requirements.The detection system relies solely on sensors.
They too doped with artificial intelligence, they identify the products taken by their weight.“This allows us to be in good standing with the CNIL.We have carried out tests because the solution is also based on artificial intelligence and it learns over use.
We are now on an error rate of less than 1% ”, specifies Lorraine Gentin, deputy director of innovation and digital transformation of the Casino group.
The payment system is also separate.Amazon having decided to centralize everything on an Amazon Go application, it is by scanning the application at the entrance and exit of the store that the technology will associate the basket of items purchased with its user.
Monoprix has refined technological tools for the first version of its stand-alone store
BlackBox has designed its customer journey differently.For the French concept, no application.
Entering the container is done after presenting a means of payment at a terminal positioned at the entrance, with your choice of credit card or Apple Pay / Google Pay.Before leaving the BlackBox store, a touch screen displays the list of items summarizing the order basket.
A simple validation, as well as the possibility of receiving the invoice by email, and voila.
Finally, the solution that is closest technologically to Amazon Go is that of the French Storelift, with its concept of Boxy container (with an application and cameras).
Blackbox containers are similar to those of its French competitor.A reduced product range, limited to 300 references, mainly focused on salty and sweet snacks, as well as hygiene products, such as hydro-alcoholic gel and deodorant.
The technical prerequisites are also refined here, BlackBox based on a simple power supply and a 4G network.
The shelves are replenished very quickly thanks to the presence of the Monop 'parent brand next door.
BlackBox has therefore been able to combine the technological minimums required for the viability of this type of concept, while limiting the product ranges and the locations of its containers.
A strategy that should have an impact on profitability.Olivier Régo, director of the Monop 'brand justifies this positioning by arguing that the average basket of consumers is between 6 and 10 euros.As customer loyalty has yet to be established for this type of purchase, no costs for developing and maintaining an application universe.
The brand expects a monthly turnover of between 30,000 euros and 60,000 euros depending on the location.For restocking issues, these should be placed next to the existing Monop 'convenience stores.
"The use is not the same and there will be no cannibalization", assures Olivier Rego.“In areas of heavy traffic, at peak times, this can even be complementary to avoid long lines."
Deployment of ten containers in 2021, before selling the technology to the group's other franchises?
The concept also leaves room for improvements and a second version to BlackBox.
This first rendering does indeed have some limitations, highlighted by the L'Usine Digitale team, which was able to test the concept.
Since a product has fallen from a shelf, the sensor system has considered it to be purchased, and will therefore be charged without the possibility of going back even after having picked up and put the product back down.
Another limit is that of references whose weight is close.the sensors may have made errors, marginal according to Casino.To anticipate this problem, similar references have been positioned in two separate places in the stores (as for a Coke and a Coke Zero).
In any case, BlackBox, supported by its parent company, has the means to achieve its ambitions.Monoprix wants to install these new independent stores in “flow areas”, such as train stations or airports, campuses, or even hospital car parks.The sign does not specify the roadmap, but gives leads.
“We have a development plan which is bound to change depending on the health situation,” explains Olivier Régo.
“The technology is expected to be exploited in traditional stores, particularly with franchisees.We hope for an even greater use of this technology by the other brands of the group (Franprix, Casino, etc.), or even by offering this technology to other distributors.But it will be medium term "
