The grocery giant said it will use AI startup Eaigle’s technology to monitor the gates of its distribution centres and keep an eye on its freight yards. Chief commercial officer Sam Saad refused to disclose the value of the deal, but said it is a “multi-year, multimillion-dollar” partnership involving most of Loblaw’s Canadian warehouses. (The Logic)

Talking point: As companies like Loblaw expand use of self-driving vehicles, startups are forming to help them get out the gate—literally. Saad, who previously worked at Gatik, would not confirm whether Eaigle was working with Loblaw’s self-driving vehicle fleet. But he said Eaigle’s technology can be operated by human drivers with an app, or by direct communication with autonomous vehicles. Either way, he said, the technology addresses a gap in the supply-chain or logistics industry, where companies are automating systems on the road and in warehouses, but fewer are working on optimizing the chain of custody between those two locations. Eaigle, which has offices in Markham and Kitchener, Ont., and two U.S. locations, is hoping its technology will help Loblaw speed up checks of shipping paperwork, or scan for problems, like damage to refrigeration systems.

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