Easy shopping automation in stationary shops

Rabtrolley - an eco-friendly plastic shopping trolley brand where simplicity meets innovation

Rabtrolley has been monitoring the market of innovation in markets and smaller shops for many years. We are convinced that our trolleys are timeless. The possibilities of brand-specific personalisation still seem to be unmatchable.

We are not ignorant. We adapt to the needs of our customers in a clever, innovative and yet uncomplicated way. We are aware that development is still ongoing and it is still difficult to predict what role the trolley will ultimately fulfil. We therefore strive to ensure that the shopping tool flexibly adapts to expectations, but retains its basic functionality.

Automation - a long-standing trend

The automation of shopping in stationary shops is a very popular trend that aims to streamline and simplify the shopping process. The introduction of modern technology in retail spaces allows for increased efficiency, reduced service times and improved overall customer satisfaction.

After the pandemic, researchers from McKinsey & Company (2021) conducted a study which found that around 79% of consumers still plan to use self-service checkouts and mobile payments. Preferences for contactless and self-service shopping have crystallised over recent years. Increasingly, purchases have lower volumes but are more frequent. This favours the development of convenience stores and the automation (speeding up) of processes.

Simple, basic ways to streamline the purchasing process

- Card payments - it is card payments that have initiated a significant speeding up of the process. For customers, it's great convenience and no need to remember cash in the wallet. For shop staff, no more problems with giving and calculating change. What was once a luxury and innovation is now the absolute norm

- self-service checkouts - each additional payment point means smaller lines. With an average of one helper per four tills, this means significant savings for the shop and a smoother service for customers.

- Code scanners and sales apps - scanners or simple smartphones with apps mounted at shopping trolleys can make a significant contribution to simplifying and completing purchases more quickly. The customer then does not need to use cash registers and staff support. Needless to say, this saves money for shopkeepers.

The Rabtrolley brand as the simple answer to modern shopping

It is possible to fit a smartphone holder on all our trolley models and a scan holder on some. So regardless of the size or model of trolley, it is possible to automate shopping in any shop with this simple modification.

The quintessential example of simplicity is the Twinst Bag, the forerunner of self-service shopping. The Twinst Bag is a frame with hooks for two reusable bags. The consumer scans the product and puts it directly into the bag. Then, for example, he/she pays for the whole purchase in an app on his/her smartphone and removes the bags from the holder and leaves the shop.

A definite advantage is the lightweight, manoeuvrable design with no unnecessary electronics. The scanning and payment process does not require customers to learn new skills. This is because we rely on the knowledge and tools that every consumer already has.

In the shop, this design takes up extremely little space. Also, no technical service is needed as in the case of so-called smart trolleys or self-service checkouts. The Twinst bag is an innovative approach to a traditional tool.

Climate education for clients is an added value. They get used to using their own bags and we producers do not introduce new and recycled plastic into the environment.

It can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be

Of course, automation can go much further, and the development of possibilities at the moment seems beyond the limits of imagination. Currently, retail chains have started a race in the category of 24/7 shops, completely unmanned, with full monitoring and advanced anti-theft systems. Technology vendors are racing to build smart apps that not only track customers' choices in real time, but can also navigate them and suggest products that are compatible or similar to the ones they have already chosen.

Development can therefore be very expensive and complicated, but as Rabtrolley's experience shows, it doesn't have to be at all. By implementing a few solutions that are not very costly, you can bring your stationary shop into the world of modern technology.? With the help of overlays, a few additional accessories, a retail chain or even each individual shop is able to guide its customers through the shopping experience quickly, easily and as stress-free as possible.

Good practices: Carrefour Polska , Tuttigiorni Cagliari , Redvital Comercializadora