Sainsbury’s speeds up in-store shopping with self-checkout, AI
The U.K.’s second-largest supermarket retailer is transforming store operations.
As part of its broader "Next Level" business development strategy, Sainsbury’s is rolling out the NCR Voyix Commerce Platform, POS solutions and self-checkout systems to 22,500 checkouts across its supermarkets, convenience stores and gas stations.
This seven-year implementation agreement expands the grocer’s more than 20-year strategic partnership with NCR Voyix. Leveraging NCR Voyix hosted cloud technology, Sainsbury’s will receive real-time data and analytics on store operations while also utilizing artificial intelligence to better analyze sales, estimate future store performance, improve productivity and manage cash.
Sainsbury’s hopes to obtain the flexibility to adapt to market trends more quickly with this AI-based analytical capability. The new platform will also enable associates to approve transactions remotely via tablet, which Sainsbury’s hopes will speed up the checkout process. And AI-based self-checkout terminals will deliver personalized promotions uniquely tailored to each customer.
Boise-based regional convenience store retailer Stinker Stores is also utilizing the NCR Voyix Commerce Platform via edge infrastructure to virtualize its POS system and enhance other store solutions.
[READ MORE: U.K.’s Sainsbury’s first non-U.S. retailer to adopt Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ tech]
"Our commitment to unbeatable quality food and great service, whether in store or online, is strengthened by NCR Voyix technology," said Clodagh Moriarty, chief retail and technology director, Sainsbury’s. "NCR Voyix has grown alongside Sainsbury’s for two decades, unlocking new capabilities and optimizing product management, sales forecasting and store efficiencies."
"We aim to operate at the speed of consumers, if not faster – striking to outpace the market and keep our customers ahead of the curve with configurable, scalable and smart technology," said Eric Schoch, executive VP and president of retail at NCR Voyix. "With our modern software-first approach, Sainsbury’s can implement rapid changes at much lower costs, run services in the cloud while the store can operate self-checkout at the speed of digital channel."
