Retail transformation: Sensei unveils Dojo, Europe’s largest fully-automated supermarket

13 Mar 2023 --- Sensei has unveiled “Dojo” – Europe’s largest fully automated superstore. Opened in Lisbon, Portugal, in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the facility is a test lab to evaluate and showcase the potential for autonomous retail environments.

Leveraging AI, computer vision and a system of sensors, Dojo can automatically track products and consumer interactions across the store. This enables retailers to track inventory in real-time and access a “wealth of insights” to optimize their operations and merchandizing, according to Sensei.

“This is what all supermarkets will look like in the future,” envisions Vasco Portugal, CEO and co-founder of Sensei.

“Sensei’s Dojo is a big step in the rollout of autonomous stores and a major leap forward in this retail transformation.”

Sensei has unveiled Dojo, Europe’s largest fully automated test supermarket. (Credit: Sensei)A “friction-free” experience
Dojo’s technology emphasizes features that further improve the “friction-free” shopping experience, according to Sensei. 

Such features include gateless entry and exit and an automatic card payment terminal at the end of a shop, where purchases are displayed in real-time, meaning no associated app is required. Dojo also features self-service coffee and juice machines.

Automated tracking of products extends to items from assisted counters, such as bakeries and butchers. Sensei notes that Dojo’s technology ensures all items in-store are tracked, whether from shelves, fridges, freezers, or fresh produce aisles. 

Portugal highlights how this technology is poised to become the new normal for supermarkets.

“Friction-free shopping is on the cusp of becoming mainstream. Many of Europe’s largest supermarket groups are testing autonomous store technology or have already launched a check-out free store”, he says.

Cruising futuristic aislesDojo can track products across the store in real-time via AI-powered sensors. (Credit: Sensei)
Dojo is 500 m2 and, as such, the “biggest fully autonomous store in Europe,” according to Sensei. The company adds that the technology behind Dojo is scalable for retail spaces ranging from 150 m2 to 1500 m2.

The supermarket concept leverages high-powered HPE ProLiant servers, which produce enough computational power to run Senei’s AI models.

Phil Cutrone, senior vice president and general manager of Service Providers, OEM, and Major Accounts at HPE, says: “Sensei is transforming retail with cutting-edge AI to deliver a seamless shopping experience while optimizing operations.” 

‍He notes that Sensei’s Dojo platform could inform further market insights. “Sensei and HPE are delivering innovation for in-store grocery retailers, improving customer experiences and unlocking new data sources.”

“This facility proves autonomous store technology can work in larger store formats and shows what grocery shopping will be like for millions of people globally within the next five years,” adds Portugal.

Automatic for the people
Total retail automation has become a holy grail for businesses looking to reduce costs. As inflation and food prices bite into already-strained wallets, producers, manufacturers and retailers alike are looking for any solution to reduce their overheads. 

Current innovations in the automated retail sector include Bob Bistro, a series of smart fridge-type devices equipped with artificial intelligence and a “grab and go” technology with hundreds of sensors. 

Similarly, AutoStore, the robot technology company that invented Cube Storage Automation, has recently developed a solution to automate the storage and retrieval of frozen food items. 

By James Davies