Sainsbury’s confirms major ‘AI change’ to home deliveries | UK | News

Sainsbury’s has confirmed that a major update will be rolled out across its UK home delivery service. Powered by AI, the new technology will be installed in the supermarket’s fleet of vans to record and monitor ‘safety breaches’.

Store vans will soon be fitted with ‘double-facing’ cameras – looking at both the driver and the road ahead. The cameras will check if, for example, a delivery driver is not wearing their seatbelt or isn’t looking at the road and will “sound a vocal alert”.

According to a report from The Grocer, the supermarket bosses said the cameras turn on, show a red ‘recording’ light when the ignition is turned on, and remain active for 10 minutes after the ignition is switched off. The cameras only save footage “when there is something to record”, such as a collision.

The new approach follows a successful trial earlier this year with hundreds of delivery drivers. During the test period, cameras prompted a 77% reduction in “safety incidents” and a 57% reduction in harsh braking.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told The Grocer: “Following a successful trial with hundreds of drivers, we’re rolling out safety cameras across our grocery delivery fleet as part of our ongoing commitment to colleague safety. Results were hugely encouraging.

“This technology, already widely used by delivery companies, provides real-time hazard alerts and only records when a potential incident is detected.” The camera rollout will take place between June and October, according to reports.

Once cameras are installed at a distribution site or store, there will be a two week period before they become fully functional to allow drivers time to adjust to them. Sainsbury’s said it had consulted with drivers and unions ahead of the wider rollout.

Bally Auluk, national officer for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers [USDAW], said: “USDAW continues to work closely with Sainsbury’s on measures to improve colleague safety. We have seen the benefits of the successful trial of this technology.

“We recognise the challenges delivery drivers may face on the road, and we support steps employers take to help keep colleagues safe and ensure our members are not incorrectly blamed for incidents which are not their fault. It is important that there is clear awareness that vehicles are monitored and we also urge the public to treat our members with the respect they deserve as key workers delivering an essential service.”

In other Sainsbury’s updates, stores will stand by a ’40p bag rule’ across 1,500 UK stores. Customers recently questioned if the major chain offers replacement ‘bags for life’ for those that get damaged.