Supermarkets have traditionally been the leaders in self-scanning solutions, but convenience stores have been unexplored territory — until now. Following a three-month test at the 7-Eleven store located in its Dallas headquarters, the retailer is now launching its Scan & Pay offering in 14 Dallas-area stores, with plans to expand to additional markets in 2019.
The solution, which works for both Android and iOS systems, will be integrated directly into the 7Rewards loyalty program app, explained Gurmeet Singh, Chief Digital Officer and CTO of 7-Eleven. “If the store a customer enters offers Scan & Pay, geofencing means that the shopper automatically sees this option on their app,” said Singh in an interview with Retail TouchPoints.
Customers scan barcoded items which are automatically added to their basket. The app also lists available discounts, loyalty program rewards and promotional pricing. Shoppers can pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a traditional debit or credit card. Scan & Pay “confirmation stations,” equipped with clear shopping bags, are located in the participating stores. Once a customer pays, they scan the QR code appearing on the Scan & Pay station screen and go.
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The three-month test period gave 7-Eleven valuable feedback from both customers and store associates. “We wanted to explore consumers’ adoption of the technology: How do people learn about it? How do they onboard, and how do they use it?” said Singh. 7-Eleven placed point-of-purchase signage in the stores to help guide customers, and added the confirmation stations because, “Contrary to what people might think, consumers want confirmation of their purchase,” said Singh. “They don’t want to feel like they’re walking out of the store without paying.”
The addition of Scan & Pay is part of the retailer’s effort to “make every interaction more valuable and delightful,” said Singh. “We’ve rethought the in-store experience with innovations including 7Rewards, the addition of Apple Pay and Google Pay, acceptance of Alipay and WeChat in our Canadian stores and also AR experiences. We’re looking to both drive innovation and redefine convenience.”
