Aldi Is Making Another Checkout Change

If you shop at Aldi, you can always expect a few things. There will probably be several Aldi Finds you're hoping to snag, the "aisle of shame" will tempt you with its seasonal offerings, and a quarter and reusable shopping totes are always necessary.

One thing we didn't expect at the grocery chain was a change to its shopping experience, but there is a massive shake-up on the horizon. Aldi has been testing a fully automated checkout system at a Chicago suburb store since November.

Aldi Tests Fully Automated Checkout

While you may shop at many stores with a self-checkout section, Aldi is going further with nearly checkout-free technology called "Aldi Go." The new system uses cameras and sensors throughout the store to track what shoppers grab and put in their carts as they shop. They pay via an app where customers have entered their credit card number for purchases.

After customers shop, they head to a touchscreen kiosk where their items have been totaled and scan their phones to pay. A few items require more effort than just putting them in your cart. For alcohol purchases, Aldi Go customers over 21 need to get approved by an employee, and produce items sold by weight still need to get weighed. 

This isn't the first venture into "smart" grocery shopping territory. Grocery stores such as Kroger and Albertsons have been using smart grocery carts. Plus, if you've ever shopped at an Amazon Fresh grocery store, the Aldi Go process is essentially the same—though, of course, in this case, it's not your Amazon account being charged. 

There's no word now on when (and if) Aldi plans to expand the pilot program and implement this shopping technology in other stores. Unless you're near Aurora, Illinois, you can expect business as usual at your local Aldi.