UK-based retailer Tesco will trial a system to cut back on checkout queues at its Thai outlets as part of an ongoing battle with Big C, which recently acquired Carrefour’s operations in that country.
According an article in the Bangkok Post, Tesco had earlier reignited a coupon war by offering Bt110 cash coupons redeemable on purchases over Bt600. Big C then followed suit offering Bt100 coupons under the same conditions.
The most recent phase in the battle for Thai customer loyalty has centred on customer service, with Tesco investing Bt150m on its Quick Checkout service at 213 of its Tesco Lotus hypermarkets and Talad Lotus stores across the country.
The service promises that if queues stretch beyond a green line painted at the checkout area the company will open a new checkout, reported the newspaper.
If the service is well received it will be introduced to other Tesco outlets in China, Malaysia and South Korea.
Meanwhile, Big C is in the process of rebranding the outlets it purchased from Carrefour late last year into Big C branches. The Bangkok Post reported the company would introduce a series of service initiatives once rebranding was complete.
