easySHOP: Scan and bag groceries as you shop

In the eyes of Giant Super Food Stores, easy shopping means eliminating check-out lines. Their new "easySHOP" technology lets people scan and bag items as they shop throughout the store, then pay at a self-service check-out kiosk and leave. In other words, groceries go into your cart from the shelves and don’t leave until you get to your car.

easySHOP requires Giant’s BONUSCARD loyalty card. The system aims to empower customers by putting more control in their hands.  Further, the perception is that scanning one’s own groceries is faster than having them scanned in a check-out line. Finally, the scanner lets people keep a rolling tally of their bill, helping them stay within their budget.

Are there ulterior purposes of this system? Is this a way for Giant to better monitor customer behavior in store?  If the scanners contain RFID or GPS, Giant could track exactly how consumers shop the store: the route they take, the time they spend in each aisle or even at each shelf, the items they put in their cart (and those they put back).  Another potential benefit to the store is a reduced need for cashiers.

Shoppers might actually spend equal or more time in store doing all this scanning. But the time might not seem as long since they’re so busy scanning and bagging.

Find out more at:  http://www.giantsuperfoodstore.com/easyshop.cfm



Images from giantsuperfoodstore.com

Comments

[Michael Dusing]

This is a great use of technology in-store. As you pointed out this give you tons of new data on each consumer and how they individually shop the store. Is there a way to integrate couponing into this technology? Say for instance you have data saying this customer bought paper towels the last two times they were in the store and judging by their route this time they are skipping over that section. Can you then have intelligent technology that displays a reminder and/or coupon for paper towels? This could really help in driving frequency and greater share of basket.

[James Suckow]

I would love this t my grocery store. I hate the lines at check-out, and always go to the self-scan because I don't like interacting with the checkers. If I go to a store that doesn't have self-checkout, I may not go back again. The idea of being able to check out along the way through the store is genius! I could be in and out of that store even faster. Can't wait for it to come to my grocer.