Talking Retail Grocery and product news for independent retailers
Customers can use their smartphones to scan their shopping, pack it and track what they are spending as they go, then pay for it through the app, without needing to go to a physical till.
The SmartShop app is now live in more than 75 Sainsbury’s Locals and the retailer is continuing to rapidly roll out the technology to more convenience stores – 40 more will follow this week alone.
SmartShop now accounts for more than half of sales in some supermarkets and Sainsbury’s is serving more than one million customers a week through the app.
The supermarket giant is also is trialling a new virtual queuing system to test whether the technology will help customers stay safe, save time and shop conveniently in stores. The trial, which will run via the app ufirst, will be live in five stores this week, and is the first time this technology has been tested in the UK.
The trial will run until mid-August and test how customers respond to such a solution, as well as how it supports colleagues to manage queues and the flow of customers in and out of stores.
Sainsbury’s has partnered with ufirst to test the experience with customers shopping at Sainsbury’s Uxbridge, Pimlico, Dome Roundabout in Watford, Leicester North and Newham Royal Wharf stores. Customers can download the app on their smartphone and join a virtual queue without needing to physically wait in line at the store. They can then monitor their position in the queue from the comfort of their car, home or local coffee shop and they will be notified when they are at the front. If a customer does not have a smartphone, colleagues can add the customer to the queue.
Nigel Blunt, director of eCommerce at Sainsbury’s, said: “We’re always on the lookout for how we can make our customers lives easier using technology. We’re trialling a virtual queuing system that enables shoppers to hold their place in the queue using their smartphone and we will be listening closely to feedback from our customers and colleagues. We’re also rolling out SmartShop Mobile Pay to even more convenience stores, offering customers fast and contactless shopping that will help them get in and out of the store even quicker.”
