Sainsbury’s is trialling new technology that could make checkout queues a thing of the past.
The supermarket giant has been testing a new app at Euston station in London which allows customers to scan and pay for items on their phones without having to queue at the tills.
The app, which is still in development, allows the customer to purchase items from the £3 “On the Go” meal deal, which is made up of a sandwich or salad, a side item and a drink.
The Euston site was chosen to appeal to customers who are in a hurry to catch trains.
“We are always looking for new ways to help our customers live well – and saving customers time is one way we can do so,” Sainsbury’s head of customer experience Natalie Dunn said.
“Experimenting with a checkout-free experience is a first for Sainsbury’s and for many of our customers, so we are keen to understand how we can take the concept and develop an offering that is a genuinely useful for those who shop with us.
“We may be some way off from rolling this out – but we’re excited to have taken the first step.”
The app is the latest addition in Sainsbury’s bid to appeal to time-strapped customers.
The retailer has also been trialling its SmartShop service, where customers scan their items using their mobile and pay at a SmartShop dedicated checkout, which is expected to be rolled out to 50 stores by the end of the year.
Last year, Sainsbury’s began its trial of Chop Chop, a one-hour delivery service from two London stores.
