21 hours ago
New Checkers smart trolley takes payments, avoids tills
A new shopping innovation introduced by Checkers will allow customers to pay for their groceries directly from trolleys.
Labelled the Xpress Trolley, the innovation is expected to have a screen that displays promotions and details of products in the store and provides a running total for customers while they shop.
The trolley will also come with in-store navigation to direct customers.
The trial follows successful testing at Checkers Hyper Brackenfell, Cape Town in August this year, the retailer said in a statement on Wednesday.
Ten trolleys will be made available for customers at the branch, while another 10 are expected to be made available at Checkers Constantia, Cape Town.
Major retailers in SA, such as Pick n Pay, trialled self-service options at their store checkouts in 2016, with some stores still having the service. The move, however, was heavily criticised by unions who said it would impact jobs.
Checkers has also introduced the service at its Uniq Clothing stores.
According to Checkers, customers would need to scan their Xtra Savings cards before shopping, with the trolley also able to scan barcodes of store items.
After shopping, they will then head to a dedicated checkout lane which will have a concierge for assistance, to pay directly from their trolley with a bank card saved to their Checkers Sixty60 profile. An invoice will then be printed for them.
Chief strategy and innovation officer at the Shoprite Group, Neil Schreuder, said the smart trolley will create 'frictionless' shopping experiences for customers.
Supplied/ Shoprite Group
While it has been used internationally, the retailer said the innovation was the first of its kind in SA.
'The Xpress Trolley enhances convenience, improves speed, and keeps customers in control from the moment they enter the store to the moment they leave. Smart trolleys aren't about the novelty of screens on trolleys – they're about giving shoppers real-time control, creating a compelling shopping experience,' said Schreuder.
'We are also excited about the potential it holds for Sixty60's in-store pickers, specifically the additional speed and accuracy with which the in-store picking process can be completed,' he added.
