What is autonomous shopping?

Digitalization is changing the way we all live and work. The retail sector is no exception. On the contrary: anyone who shops in a supermarket, a flower shop or a farm shop are increasingly using digital technologies. The aim is to make the shopping experience more efficient, more convenient and also more cost-effective.

Which technologies enable autonomous shopping?

The retail sector has been relying on digitalization for some time now. Services such as paying with a digital wallet or scanning product information using a QR code are now a matter of course in most stores. However, autonomous shopping goes one step further and relies on tools and technologies that provide a completely new shopping experience.

• Self-checkout tills: Self-checkout systems such as those from LocaFox allow customers to scan and pay for goods themselves. This means there is no need to employ a cashier to accept and pay for the products. SCO checkouts are a huge relief for staff, especially in farm stores or busy stores. They also reduce waiting times. Modern systems such as those from LocaFox also contain numerous features that make day-to-day work easier for entrepreneurs in the retail sector.
• Cash recycler: "Hold on, I've got it right." Sentences like these are not often heard at the checkout in retail. Especially those in a hurry don't want to have to wait until every customer in the queue has counted out their change. Cash recycler for processing banknotes and coins are a practical and, above all, secure solution that can be easily connected to LocaFox's SCO systems.
• Smart shopper shopping carts: Classic shopping carts are mainly made of metal wires and are rather simple constructions. Modern smart shoppers are also wired - with integrated scanners, weight sensors and screens. The customer can scan the goods while shopping, have the price automatically calculated by the Smart Shopper and then pay at an SCO checkout checkout. This also saves personnel costs and ensures more efficient processes. However, smart shopper shopping carts tend to be used by large retailers and supermarket chains where several thousand customers go shopping every day.

Where is autonomous shopping possible?

In principle, autonomous shopping can be made possible in almost any store or store. The prerequisite is, of course, the use of the appropriate technologies. Anyone who thinks that these are only affordable for the big players on the market is mistaken. Self-checkout tills, for example, are a particularly sensible investment for small retail businesses. At LocaFox, we have already successfully integrated SCO checkouts (and many cash recyclers) in numerous small and medium-sized businesses. Examples include

• 24/7 stores
• Bakeries
• Flower stores
• Supermarkets
• Deco stores
• Farm stores
• Pop-up stores

Does autonomous shopping have advantages for the customer?

Autonomous shopping has numerous advantages for customers. For example, waiting times at the checkout are reduced. If technologies such as smartphone apps or RFID sensors are used, customers can also receive personalized offers and recommendations based on their previous shopping behavior. SCO checkouts such as those from LocaFox are also very intuitive and fun to use.

What are the advantages of autonomous shopping for retailers?

We have already indicated that tools such as SCO cash registers ensure greater efficiency. And digital technologies do indeed lead to a considerable reduction in staff and cost savings. Owners of smaller stores in particular can concentrate on their core business or spend more time advising customers. Another advantage lies in data analysis. Smart shoppers and SCO systems collect anonymized data that provides you as a store owner with valuable information about your customers' shopping behavior. What's more, systems such as SCO checkouts minimize contact points and thus reduce the risk of infection. This is an invaluable advantage, especially during the cold season or during a pandemic, which your customers will also appreciate.

Autonomous shopping: Are there disadvantages or risks?

For many people, shopping is more than just getting groceries. It is a much-loved opportunity for social interaction. Even in the digital age, there is no substitute for personal contact and anyone who treats their customers like an anonymous number will soon have no more customers. So think of autonomous shopping as a useful addition to your service offering and an opportunity to hand over routine tasks so that you can focus more on providing personal customer advice. Always keep an eye on data protection and rely on legally compliant systems such as those from LocaFox.

Autonomous shopping: What does the future hold?

Innovative companies such as the long-established Bielefeld-based ANKER Group are already working today on solutions for the retail trade of tomorrow. Existing technologies are being further developed and systems such as the SCO checkouts are being expanded to include more and more intelligent functions. Models such as the grab-and-go principle are also interesting. This uses a digital tracking system that analyzes customer and goods movements . This means that the customer no longer has to pay at the checkout after shopping, but leaves the store with the goods. An artificial intelligence (AI) then sends the invoice to the smartphone. Many ideas are not yet fully developed. However, they are being tested intensively and autonomous shopping is constantly evolving.

Would you like to find out more about autonomous shopping or our services for retailers? We would be happy to advise you personally!

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