MasterCard and Samsung have partnered to develop an app that enables consumers to order groceries direct from the Korean electronics firm's new range of smart refrigerators.
The first shopping app integrated into a refrigerator, the Groceries app will come preloaded in Samsung’s Family Hub fridge, which rolls off the production line from May this year.
At launch, US consumers will be able to order their shopping from online grocer FreshDirect, and supermarket co-operative ShopRite.
Items are added to a cart and the final shopping list is approved with a 4-digit pin entry on the fridge's embedded touch screen pad. Payment can be made with any US-issued debit and credit cards.
MasterCard has also developed a companion mobile app for Groceries, which allows multiple members of a family to add to a single cart from a device of their choice. At home, consumers can also use the mobile app to scan barcodes on products added to the online shopping cart.
The Groceries shopping cart will also learn a family’s shopping habits, making personalised suggestions on items and brands.
Future iterations planned include the addition of recipe and video integration.
As the rollout continues in 2016, additional outlets will be added through MasterCard’s partnership with MyWebGrocer, which provides e-commerce and digital marketing servicess for more than 130 grocers across the globe and over 500 major consumer packaged goods brands.
“In a world where every device - from the phone to the refrigerator - is connected to the Internet, the ways in which consumers interact and transact with their favorite brands are changing,” says Betty DeVita, chief commercial officer, MasterCard Labs. “We’re developing compelling, safe and seamless commerce experiences for consumers across channels and devices as we continue to eliminate the boundaries between how we shop and how we pay.”