Key facts
- Instacart will discontinue its Caper smart shopping cart technology by Q2 2027.
- The wind-down is expected to cost Instacart between $55 million and $80 million.
- The company plans to reinvest savings into strategic growth initiatives.
Instacart announced on Monday that it will discontinue its Caper smart shopping cart technology by the second quarter of 2027. The move, approved by the company's board of directors, is expected to cost between $55 million and $80 million. Instacart stated it will reinvest the savings into strategic growth initiatives. The Caper carts, equipped with cameras and sensors, were designed to weigh produce, track items, apply coupons, and accept payments. Instacart had previously promoted the technology as a key part of its retail technology efforts and "the future of grocery shopping."