Supermarket looks to go cashless as tech is rolled out across five stores

A supermarket is moving towards cashless technology in five of its stores in Manchester.

The Co-op is increasing till-less technology in more convenience stores as cash-use continues to drop.

The retailer is extending its pay-in-aisle technology trial to five stores in Manchester after first trialling the innovative app in its store at its Angel Square HQ in earlier this year.

The trial was followed by live consumer testing in its West Didsbury store.

Shoppers will be able to access the easy to use app on their phones and devices over the coming weeks.

The Co-op has seen a more than 10% decline in the use of cast during the last two years.

Contactless, cards and other payment methods now accounts for more than one in two transactions.

The Co-op has extended its pay-in-aisle trial after first unveiling the in-store technology last year.

The technology sits along existing payment methods – including cashiers and self-scan tills.

The App – which is being rolled out to 30 of the Co-op’s food stores in England, Scotland and Wales during August – is now easier to register and, use.

It allows customers to scan products on their own device as they walk around the store, with the cost of the shop deducted from their Apple or Google Pay account with the touch of a button. Without the need to visit a till.

Co-op members receive will a 5% reward on the purchase of own brand products, and the Co-op donates a further 1% to local causes.

Mark Pettigrew, director of retail support, said: “Technology is bringing unprecedented levels of change to retailing, with speed and ease key drivers for time-pressed consumers.

“We know that people adopt technology at different speeds, and while cash is here to stay it is clear that it is increasingly playing a lesser role in society. Retailers need to adapt and be agile, and this App builds added choice and convenience into the retail experience for our members and customers, while appealing to new shoppers.

“People lead busy lives and, shoppers value their time. Whether it’s a train to catch or on the school run this technology cuts queues and saves time. It can give our stores increased opportunity to replenish stock and increase product availability so we are at our best even at our busiest times, and enables customers to complete their shopping quickly and get on with the rest of their day and what matters most to them.”

The retailer uses ACI Worldwide’s Universal Payments (UP) Merchant Payments solution for its card processing operations. and to secure payment data through Point-2-Point Encryption (P2PE).

The system is being trialled at stores in Piccadilly, Spinningfields, West Didsbury, Cypress Place and in Angel Square.