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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“While smart trolleys have been rolled out in some international supermarkets, this is the first time they\u2019re being trialled locally,” Shoprite said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The group will use insights from this pilot to continue shaping the future of retail in South Africa.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Xpress Trolley is designed with a large touch screen attached to the handles, with a built-in barcode scanner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The process is activated by scanning a Xtra Savings card and loading a shopper’s Checkers Sixty60 profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basket can also be edited on the screen, to adjust the contents if a shopper changes their mind about an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How the Xpress Trolley works:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shoprite said that the trial will be rolling out to two stores in the Western Cape to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another 10 trolleys will be made available at Checkers Constantia following the initial testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This pilot allows us to reimagine the in-store journey using technology for a more frictionless shopping experience,” the group said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are also excited about the potential it holds for Sixty60\u2019s in-store pickers, specifically the additional speed and accuracy with which the in-store picking process can be completed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n