Sainsbury’s is trailing a string of new technology and hardware fixtures in its stores, as part of its “mission-based” plan for future stores.
The trials include a “completely new generation” of hybrid self-checkouts that combine traditional belt checkouts with self-scan systems, as well as touchscreens placed in aisles that allow shoppers to search the location of specific items in store without needing to speak to a store colleague.
Sainsbury’s is going all-out to increase the number of “bigger shops” done in its stores and wants to make it easier for customers to do larger trolley shops.
It’s currently trialling the new checkout format at its superstores in Cobham and Witney, as part of wider upgrade of its self-service checkouts announced in August.
Sainsbury’s decision to strip out many manned checkouts has proved controversial with some customers, who complain it’s come at cost to customer experience. The introduction of anti-theft barriers requiring customers to scan their receipt to exit some stores has also been unpopular.
The supermarket believes that while many shoppers like traditional checkouts, they also like scanning their own shopping. Therefore, Sainsbury’s wants to test whether giving them more space for trolleys improves the experience and leads to more sales.
Cobham also has a number of manned checkouts, alongside Sainsbury’s SmartShopping tool and bank of NCR’s typical self-scan checkouts.
Sainsbury’s store rollout plans
Sainsbury’s is working to modernise and rebalance 180 of its larger stores over the next three years, under Simon Roberts’ Next Level strategy unveiled in February. The superstore in Cobham was renovated in June, and acts as a test bed for more than 100 new format trials, which will be used as a model for the programme.
In another trial, Sainsbury’s has added new digital touchscreens that will allow shoppers to search for the location of specific items in store, as well as receive advice on recipes or health and beauty products. The tech is also on trial at Sainsbury’s stores in Talbot Green and Witney, both of which have recently been renovated.
Other tech on trial is the addition of more digital media display screens, in partnership with screen manufacturer Clear Channel. As well as the introduction of shelf weight sensors in areas that stock high-value items. The anti-theft measure notifies staff if there’s a sudden unusual change in the weight of products on shelf.
The tech comes alongside a number of more low-key format improvements. It includes displaying products that are typically bought together, but not often stocked together – for example speciality cheese, chutneys and wine – in the same areas of the shop.
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