Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
South Africa’s biggest grocery retailer, Shoprite Checkers, is launching a new high-tech ‘smart trolley’ pilot, allowing shoppers to scan items, track a live basket, and check out, skipping queues. Called the ‘Xpress Trolley’, the device allows shoppers to scan-and-bag items as they go, track a live running total, and pay directly on the trolley without needing to stand in a queue or bag products at a traditional till point.
The trial was built by the ShopriteX innovation team, which trials all the tech developments for the group before moving on to in-store pilots. “While smart trolleys have been rolled out in some international supermarkets, this is the first time they’re being trialled locally,” Shoprite said. “The group will use insights from this pilot to continue shaping the future of retail in South Africa.”
The Xpress Trolley is designed with a large touch screen attached to the handles, with a built-in barcode scanner. The process is activated by scanning a Xtra Savings card and loading a shopper’s Checkers Sixty60 profile. As customers shop, they can scan the items they’re putting into the basket, check details about it, browse personalised pomotions and track a running total to keep tabs on spending.
Shoprite noted that the screen also assists with in-store navigation by indicating where products are located within the store, making it easier for shoppers to find what they want. The basket can also be edited on the screen, to adjust the contents if a shopper changes their mind about an item.
Shoppers can then pay for the items in their basket using loaded card information from their Checkers Sixty60 profile and exit the store through a dedicated checkout gate. Shoprite said that the trial will be rolling out to two stores in the Western Cape to begin with. Following initial testing with Home Office employees at Checkers Hyper Brackenfell from mid-August, 10 trolleys will be made available to customers at this store.
Another 10 trolleys will be made available at Checkers Constantia following the initial testing. “This pilot allows us to reimagine the in-store journey using technology for a more frictionless shopping experience,” the group said. “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.”
