The retail industry is experiencing a significant transformation with the advancement of technology, and Madigans Court Spar forecourt in Belfast is at the forefront of this evolution through its investment in self-checkouts, electronic shelf-edge labels, and the Glory cash management closed-loop system. Josie McKernan, operational manager at Charioteer Ltd, attributes the success of their self-checkouts to the removal of barriers for customers, enabling them to pay by card or cash and complete transactions for various items such as fuel, cigarettes, and alcohol.
The presence of staff at the self-checkouts facilitates quick and seamless payment for customers, with minimal impact on customer service. The introduction of self-checkouts has significantly enhanced the overall customer experience, with an impressive 71% of all customer transactions now being conducted through the self-checkout system.
In addressing the issue of theft, Vars Technology’s facial recognition system has proven to be a game-changer for retailers. The system captures customer images and cross-references them with a central list of known criminal faceprints, triggering alerts to staff in the event of a match.
Electronic shelf-edge labels (ESELs) have also brought about substantial improvements to the store’s operations, enabling more efficient stock management and reducing the time spent on promotional changes. This has resulted in improved resource management and increased availability of staff to assist customers.
Volumatic’s cash-handling solutions, particularly the CounterCache intelligent (CCi), have provided additional security for staff and reduced cash handling at the tills and back office. Additionally, the CCi has gained trust from major retailers such as Tesco, The Co-op Food Group, and Morrisons.
Pricewatch Group has effectively utilized the Gander app to reduce food waste by highlighting reduced-to-clear items in stores to consumers. This real-time technology has led to a significant increase in sell-through rates, positively impacting shopper behaviour. Integration with EDGEPoS, the epos system Pricewatch works with, has shown that consumers using the Gander app save around 56% on their food shop.
The integration of Gander into the Snappy Shopper home delivery app across five Spar Scotland stores has also been successful, resulting in a reduction of food waste and an increase in the overall basket value. This technology has expanded customer options and significantly reduced food waste.
In conclusion, the integration of various retail technologies at Madigans Court Spar forecourt has not only streamlined processes for customers but has also elevated their overall experience. The success of these technologies attests to their ability to drive efficiency, mitigate risks, and reduce wastage, while simultaneously enhancing customer satisfaction.