15 hours ago
- Business
- The South African
Checkers rolls out South Africa's first-ever 'smart trolley': Here's how it works
Retail innovation in South Africa has taken a significant leap forward with Checkers unveiling the country's first smart shopping trolley, known as the Xpress Trolley, in a pilot launch that promises to reshape the in-store shopping experience.
The Shoprite Group, through its innovation division ShopriteX, is leading the charge with this new technology aimed at delivering a frictionless, queue-free, and personalised shopping journey.
The Xpress Trolley enables customers to: Scan and bag items as they shop
as they shop Track a live running total of their purchases
of their purchases Pay directly from the trolley , skipping checkout queues entirely
, skipping checkout queues entirely Access product info and in-store navigation via an interactive touchscreen
via an interactive touchscreen Receive personalised promotions based on their Xtra Savings profile
'This pilot allows us to reimagine the in-store journey using technology for a more frictionless shopping experience,' said Neil Schreuder, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Shoprite Group.
Initial testing began with Home Office employees in Brackenfell, and the pilot has now expanded to: Checkers Hyper Brackenfell (10 trolleys)
(10 trolleys) Checkers Constantia (10 trolleys)
Shoppers need only scan their Xtra Savings card, use the bags provided, and scan each item before placing it into the trolley.
At the end, customers pay via their bank card linked to their Sixty60 profile, print a till slip, and exit through a dedicated lane.
The Xpress Trolley is not just a novelty.
It aligns with global retail trends toward seamless omnichannel shopping and puts real-time control in the hands of customers.
Key benefits include: No queues or re-bagging at tills
at tills Faster, more accurate in-store picking for Sixty60 delivery staff
for Sixty60 delivery staff Improved budgeting and transparency for shoppers
'The Xpress Trolley enhances convenience, improves speed, and keeps customers in control from the moment they enter the store to the moment they leave,' added Schreuder.
While smart trolley tech has appeared internationally, this is the first of its kind in South Africa.
Learnings from the pilot will inform future rollouts as the Shoprite Group continues its push to become the country's most profitable and seamless omnichannel retailer.
If successful, South African shoppers could soon see smart trolleys becoming a standard part of their shopping experience.
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