Automated identification of items placed in a cart and routing based on same

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a batch of orders to be fulfilled by a fulfillment user at a retailer location, wherein each order includes one or more items to be obtained;
• capturing, via one or more cameras positioned facing at least a first basket of a smart shopping cart, image data;
• detecting one or more obtained items placed in the first basket based on the image data;
• generating, based on the image data, an occupancy state of the first basket indicating a spatial configuration of each obtained item in the first basket of the smart shopping cart;
• applying a fulfillment optimization model to the occupancy state to identify a next item to be obtained in the batch of orders and an optimal packing configuration in the first basket to place the next item relative to the one or more obtained items in the first basket that maximizes packing of the first basket;
• and
• displaying, via an electronic display, the next item and the optimal packing configuration to place the next item in the first basket.