Aldi has become the latest grocery retailer in the UK to launch a checkout-free store that uses hi-tech camera systems to detect what shoppers put in their basket.
The Shop&Go concept store in Greenwich, London opened this morning for public testing, having been trialled by Aldi staff in recent months.
As with similar concepts launched by Amazon, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, the Aldi store allows customers to complete their shop without scanning products or having to go through a checkout.
Using the Aldi Shop&Go app, customers can enter the store, pick up their items, and then walk out when they have completed their shop. Once the customer leaves the store, they will then be automatically charged for their shopping via their selected payment method and a receipt will appear in the app.
The system, provided by technology firm AiFi, uses cameras to detect which products customers have picked up.
Customers wanting to purchase alcohol, or other Challenge 25 products, can use facial age estimation technology to authorise their purchase. The technology, provided by Yoti, enables customers to confirm their identity via the Aldi Shop&Go app. Those who opt to not use the system will instead be age verified by a member of staff.
“Today is the culmination of months of work, not least from the team here in Greenwich and I’m looking forward to seeing how customers react to our trial,” said Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland.
“This store utilises the very latest in retail technology offering Aldi’s award-winning products and unbeatable prices to customers in a new and innovative way. The team are really excited about seeing customers come in and experience Aldi Shop&Go.”
Lewis Esparon, Store Manager, added: “For us, steps like this are always about improving the customer experience and the whole team are looking forward to being on-hand and ready to help to ensure that experience is as smooth as ever.”
Sainsbury’s launched its checkout-free store concept in November last year, using Amazon’s ‘just walk out’ technology developed for its own grocery outlets.
Tesco opened its first checkout-free outlet for the public in October. The ‘GetGo’ Express store uses technology provided by Israeli firm Trigo to detect what products customers have chosen. Meanwhile, Morrisons has started staff trials of their own checkout-free store.
NAM Implications:
- The tech is already here…
- …along with the cost-saving on personal checkout operators.
- (to say nothing of all that shopper data…)
- So think ahead to an inevitable life of fully automated checkout process, everywhere…
- Whilst Aldi maintain the same price-differential…
- …and discounter advantage.
