Sainsbury's to launch app that reduces checkout time to seconds

Sainsbury's is to trial a new shopping app that will build customer baskets via smartphone and cut time spent in store and at the till.

The new app will allow customers to build a virtual basket of favourite products from anywhere and before they shop, and it will also navigate customers around the store to find their predicted items faster. In addition, the app will scan items at the shelf and enable payment through a mobile to save the customer from queuing.

Sainsbury’s said the app has been proven to cut the time taken to do a shop – reducing checkout time to seconds in testing.

Jon Rudoe, digital and technology director at Sainsbury’s, said: "We know that customers’ weekly shop doesn’t start at our front door – they know what they like and they also like that search for a bargain.

"They still want to come into store - but with limited time, they want to be able to get their shop done quickly. That’s why we’re putting digital firmly at the forefront of our agenda, and putting technology in the hands of our customers."

The app is being trialled with Sainsbury's teams in stores in the next few weeks and will be firstly made available to Nectar cardholders later next year.

Source: The Retail Bulletin.

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