Lleida-based supermarket Plusfresc is trialling a new store format that does away with the need to load trolleys and pack shopping into bags.
By using a custom-designed app and NFC technology (near-field communication), consumers select products by holding their mobile phone over the label and then indicate the amount they want to buy.
They check out their virtual trolley and opt for home delivery or to take away their purchases themselves.
After carrying out a pilot test with 100 customers at one of its flagship stores in Barcelona, Plusfresc is now ready to roll out the model to other supermarkets.
Carles Hurtado, the retailer’s director of innovation and projects, said the aim was to offer customers a faster, more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
“For us this is a very important step forward: a new physical purchasing model to improve the customer experience, using NFC technology and the Plusfresc app and thus avoiding traditional methods that are more cumbersome,” he said.
“This new service is ideal for customers who still do not want to shop online, either because they want to see the product or because they like the experience, but want to lose the least amount of time possible by making the purchase.”
