British retailer Morrisons is currently trialling an in-store technology from Norway-based Strongpoint. It enables customers to purchase quit-smoking products from a dedicated touchscreen interface directly embedded in the aisle’s shelf. The items are then being dispensed from a machine upon leaving the store, British trade magazine The Grocer reports.
The trial is taking place in a store in the Greater Manchester area. Once shoppers have selected their preferred quit-smoking aid, a printed ticket is issued which is scanned and paid for at either a staffed or self-service checkout. Upon completion of the transaction, another voucher is provided, which can be scanned at a vending machine near the store’s exit to retrieve the product.
This technology utilises Strongpoint’s Vensafe Select&Collect kiosk and dispenser system, which is already in operation in over 2,500 stores across Europe, with notable deployment in the Nordic countries. The equipment is typically employed to secure high-value, high-theft items such as fragrances, video games or tobacco products, as well as discreet items like medications, pregnancy tests or condoms.
Reducing theft while increasing sales
Strongpoint asserts that its solution significantly reduces theft, as products are only accessible after payment has been processed. The system also tracks sales, stock variation, and machine openings, thus helping to mitigate internal theft. The solution is said to improve operational efficiencies by securely storing all items in a single location, freeing staff from time-consuming tasks such as attaching and removing security tags or managing locked displays. Additionally, Strongpoint claims that the system can lead to a 5 to 10 per cent increase in sales due to the removal of purchasing barriers.
This latest version includes integrated digital screens both in the aisle and at the dispenser, which can be incorporated into the retailer’s in-store media portfolio as new revenue-generating screen space. The Strongpoint technology is compatible with self-checkout systems incorporating AI-based age estimation for the sale of age-restricted products. Age verification could also be performed at the dispenser equipped with this technology. In the UK, Strongpoint’s solution has been trialled by various retailers in recent months, including Asda for vaping and tobacco products, and Sainsbury’s for Pokémon toys.
