Sensei powered Pharma&Go store proves that autonomous retail is moving beyond groceries space

Sensei's recent launch in the pharmacy/healthcare space is another strong proof point that autonomous stores are moving beyond grocery and convenience into new verticals.

So says Oliver Baggaley, Director of Autonomous Stores Success at Trigo.

Located in Parque das Nações, in Lisbon, a new Sensei powered Pharma&Go store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With 90m² and a grab and go model, shoppers can check in with a bank card at the entrance and move freely around the space, which is organised like a conventional store.

The technology implemented, based on artificial intelligence and computer vision, operates without personal cameras, biometric identification or the collection of data that could compromise privacy. Products taken from the shelves are identified in real-time, as is the automatic updating of each customer’s digital basket. Upon exit, the amount is charged to the card, with no need to use a checkout.

“The opening of the first 100% autonomous healthcare store in Europe shows how artificial intelligence and computer vision can transform entire sectors, creating faster, more convenient and safer ways to shop. For Sensei, it is an important milestone to apply this technology to a segment as sensitive as health and well-being, reinforcing our mission to make retail smarter and more human centric,” said Vasco Portugal, CEO and Co-founder at Sensei.

In a LinkedIn post, Baggaley said: "At first glance, it might seem strange for me to highlight a competitor’s success. But I don’t see other autonomous store players as the real competition."

"The real comparison most retailers are making today is still: autonomous stores vs self-checkout; autonomous stores vs smart carts; autonomous stores vs traditional manned tills."

"Every credible deployment - especially in a regulated, high-trust category like pharmacies - helps shift that conversation. It shows the tech is maturing, flexible, and capable of handling very different use cases, baskets, and customer expectations."

He added: "It’s also encouraging to see innovation in healthcare retail, where reducing friction, improving availability, and enabling new store formats can have a very real impact on customers (sometimes you really can't wait until your local store is open the next day)."

"The market is growing, diversifying, and getting more serious - and that’s good for everyone building in this space. Congrats to the Sensei team on the launch."

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