While many full-range retailers are phasing out scanless technology, Rewe has surprisingly opened a new store. This is already the retailer’s seventh test store to feature Trigo technology. At the 650-square-metre supermarket in Hanover, which is equipped with cameras and weighing technology, customers can shop without scanning products. The test store at Lister Meile 77-79 offers a wide range of products, including freshly baked goods, a salad bar and sushi.
Following the closure of five scanless stores operated by Lithuania’s Rewe Group subsidiary, Iki, last year, the end of Aldi Süd’s latest pilot project using scanless technology last week, as well as the withdrawal of Albert Heijn and Continente (Sonae Distribuição), not to mention Amazon’s decision to close all its publicly accessible scanless stores, the opening of yet another scanless store comes as a surprise. With this new location, Rewe now operates a total of seven stores with Trigo technology in Germany: in Cologne, Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf and two locations in Hamburg. All these stores remain test locations.
Trigo’s solution uses 3D modelling to track customers’ movements in the store, allowing them to pick up and put back products as they wish. Shoppers purchase items as usual, placing them in their shopping trolley or in bags they have brought with them. They then proceed to one of the eight SCO terminals, where a list of the items purchased appears. Each payment terminal is equipped with a Glory cash recycler, enabling customers to pay by card or cash.
More time for customer service
All customers must scan a QR code to open the exit gates when leaving the store, just like in the other Rewe pilot stores. This code is printed on the receipt or displayed on the smartphone screen for customers using the Rewe app.
According to Rewe, the scanless concept is designed to provide greater convenience for customers and reduce the workload for store staff. It gives employees more time to provide personalised advice, answer questions and offer services. “Our goal is to use innovations in a way that creates real added value – intuitive, fast and without complexity,” says Alina Klüger, Pick&Go project manager at Rewe: “At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring personalised advice and high-quality service.”
