Auchan has launched another Auchan Go in Hungary, its cashierless convenience store banner. The 18 square metres container-like retail unit is located in Budapest, by the Bikás park underground station and close to the Kelenföld railway station. It operates around the clock without dedicated on-site personnel.
The store’s design, software architecture, and application integration were developed by Kende Retail, leveraging the solution from Chinese technology provider Cloudpick. This sets the store aside from the most recent implementations of the Auchan Go in Poland or France which employ scanless technology from Israeli provider Trigo.
The latest Auchan Go units in France and Poland are also significantly larger, at 75 and 86 square metres respectively and offering around 1,000 items. This Hungarian counterpart presents a curated selection of 420 products. The assortment includes snacks, beverages, chilled and frozen goods products such as ice-creams and pizzas. Alcohol and other age-restricted items are excluded. The range consists mostly of branded items, alongside some private labels. Day-to-day store operations are managed by the Auchan hypermarket in Albertfalva, located in the south of Budapest.
Appealing to families at the park
Customers gain access to the store by scanning a QR code via the retailer’s mobile app. At the gate, a temporary QR code is generated to create a virtual shopping cart which can be scanned multiple times to allow a group to buy together. This functionality is particularly relevant for families visiting Bikás Park and its playground, one of the key target demographics identified by Auchan for this location.
The sales area is outfitted with 20 high-definition AI cameras and precision weight-sensor shelving that collectively monitor item selections and customer movement within the space. The combination of both systems would identify a wide array of scenarios such as products consumed on-site or items picked up and subsequently returned to the shelves.
Expansion plans under evaluation
Upon exiting, the virtual shopping basket is confirmed. The linked bank card is then automatically charged without the need for traditional checkout procedures. A minimum balance of 12 Euros on the bank card is required to gain access to the store. The system reportedly operates without facial recognition, which according to the supplier ensures full compliance with GDPR regulations and safeguarding customer privacy.
Pending the outcome of the pilot, the model may be rolled out to additional sites, such as university campuses and motorway service areas. “As part of the second phase, we aim to integrate e-commerce capabilities into the concept, reinforcing our multi-channel retail strategy,” stated Attila Nagy, Sales Director at Auchan Hungary. Kende Retail has been actively involved in advancing scanless retail in Hungary, previously collaborating with brands such as Coca-Cola HBC to introduce similar micro-store formats earlier this year.
