After successful testing in some Texas stores, 7-Eleven is heading to the Big Apple with its mobile self-checkout app. A nice feature of the app is its integration to 7-Eleven’s loyalty program. Customer engagement increases when merchants use mobile apps for personalization of marketing and loyalty tracking.
Not quite like an Amazon Go system, the 7-Eleven app uses a QR code system for the customer to scan products and then pay for the items via a digital wallet at what 7-Eleven calls a “confirmation station.” This should be faster than a cashier tallying up items at traditional checkout. But we wonder whether the confirmation station will build up its own line of customers as well. How fast will it be and how many customers can it handle at once?
A Chain Store Age article, excerpted below, covers the topic further:
New Yorkers are famous for being in a rush, and 7-Eleven Inc. is now offering them a self-checkout option. 7-Eleven is introducing mobile checkout to select locations in New York City. The new frictionless shopping experience is integrated into the 7Rewards loyalty program in the convenience retailer’s mobile app. Customers can automatically earn and redeem any available 7Rewards points or coupons, as well as in-store promotions, when performing mobile checkout.
Mobile checkout works on both Android and iOS devices and is available for most 7-Eleven merchandise that has a barcode. Some items, such as financial services and age-verified products, still require cashier assistance. All payment transactions can be made securely through linked debit card, credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
“More people are on the go and looking for faster, easier ways to shop than ever before,” said Gurmeet Singh, executive VP, chief digital, information and marketing officer at 7-Eleven. “7-Eleven continues to redefine convenience with frictionless experiences like mobile checkout. Our customers use their smartphone for all kinds of activities that save them precious time. Now with the mobile checkout feature, customers can control their entire 7-Eleven shopping experience. Not only that, but customers can earn and redeem points on a variety of products when using mobile checkout.”
Overview by Raymond Pucci, Director, Merchant Services at Mercator Advisory Group
