Checkers pilots SA-first smart trolley

The Shoprite Group is piloting a new smart trolley concept called Xpress Trolley at its supermarket chain Checkers.

The Xpress Trolley will let shoppers add items to it and skip the checkout queue by paying directly on the cart, explains the company, which is equipped with a touch screen.

It is currently being trialled at two Checkers stores in the Western Cape, Brackenfell and Constantia where ten trolleys are available to customers at each branch.

The smart trolley is a South African first by any retailer, which puts Checkers at the forefront of a technology-first in-store experience.

Neil Schreuder, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Shoprite Group says: “This pilot allows us to reimagine the in-store journey using technology for a more frictionless shopping experience.”

The closest technology-first experience South Africa has is at clothing stores Zara and Uniq who both offer self-checkout queues where items are placed inside the built-in containers at the till, and pricing is automatically calculated. Customers then complete payment.

Xpress Trolley works almost similarly, as it lets shoppers scan-and-bag items as they walk through the store, which allows for a live running total, and then payment is made directly on the trolley.

The ShopriteX innovation team built the Xpress Trolley, with the aim of putting customers in control of their shopping experience from check-in to check-out, explains the company.

“A user-friendly screen guides shoppers through their journey, displaying real-time product details, personalised promotions, and a running total that helps them keep tabs on their spending as they go,” it says.

“The screen also assists with in-store navigation by indicating where products are located within the store, making it easier for shoppers to find what they want and need without trawling the supermarket.”

Checkers Xpress Trolley – How it works

• Scan an Xtra Savings card below the screen mounted on the trolley to start shopping.
• Place the shopping bags provided into the trolley.
• Scan each item’s barcode before placing it into the trolley.
• Track a live basket total, view product info and activate personalised promotions.
• Head to the dedicated checkout lane and pay directly from the trolley using the bank card saved on a customer’s Checkers Sixty60 profile.
• Take the printed till slip and exit via the checkout gate – no need to visit a till point – with a concierge on hand for support.

“The Xpress Trolley enhances convenience, improves speed, and keeps customers in control from the moment they enter the store to the moment they leave. Smart trolleys aren’t about the novelty of screens on trolleys – they’re about giving shoppers real-time control, creating a compelling shopping experience,” says Schreuder.

“We are also excited about the potential it holds for Sixty60’s in-store pickers, specifically the additional speed and accuracy with which the in-store picking process can be completed.”

The company says the learnings from the trial is part of its broader strategy to “become South Africa’s most profitable and seamless omnichannel retailer”.

It adds that while smart trolleys exist in international supermarkets, this is the first time it has being trialled locally, and will use insights from the pilot to shape the future of retail in South Africa.