Shopping facility assistance system and method having a motorized transport unit that selectively leads or follows a user within a shopping facility

A shopping facility assistance system comprising:

• a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a retail store space;
• a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit;
• and
• a central computer system having a network interface configured for the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the retail store space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system instructs a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units to:
• lead a user to a destination within the retail store;
• or
• follow the user within the retail store;
• as determined by the central computer system;
• and
• wherein the central computer system is further configured to automatically switch the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units from leading the user to following the user when the user diverts from following the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units.