Sainsbury’s rolls out trial in UK stores to avoid checkouts

Sainsbury’s is changing the way customers shop with a significant update to its scan and shop service, removing the need for traditional checkouts altogether. The cutting-edge trial will be launched in only two Sainsbury’s locations initially. The Grocer reports that one store in Richmond and one in Kempton are slated to begin the testing phase.

During the shopping trip, patrons will use SmartShop devices to scan their items on the go. The real innovation comes into play when it’s time to complete the purchase. Rather than proceeding through the usual SmartShop checkout, customers will simply tap their payment card against the SmartShop device. They can then decide whether to print the receipt or receive it by email.

After paying, shoppers will dock the SmartShop scanner and leave the store. However, the new system is still in its infancy. For the moment, the self-pay scanners cannot process staff discounts or recognise physical Nectar cards.

Darren Sinclair, Sainsbury’s director of future stores, commented to The Grocer on the update: “It’s a bit more ergonomic, I think about this as trying to reduce friction, improve payment and simplify the shopping journey, as well as the future potential space.”

Sainsbury’s staff members are known to perform spot checks on customer baskets as part of efforts to reduce product loss. This checkout-free experience is just a fragment of the larger checkout revamp that started last year.

In addition to this, some of the chain’s stores have introduced AI-powered video scanning technology at their checkouts and packing zones to tackle theft.

There’s no word yet on which specific stores have adopted these advanced anti-theft cameras, or if there are plans to expand their use to more Sainsbury’s locations.

The camera, pointing downwards, is designed to detect items that may be placed in a bag without being scanned which will trigger a display message to appear: “Looks like that last item didn’t scan. Please check that you scanned it correctly before continuing.”

Sainsbury’s ultimate aim with these technological advancements is to “reduce friction” within their stores, enhance security against shoplifting, and provide greater convenience for customers who choose to shop in person.