Woolworths has become the latest retail giant in South Africa to introduce self-service checkout tills
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Woolworths has become the latest retail giant in South Africa to introduce self-service checkout tills, joining a growing trend in the grocery and fast-food sectors aimed at speeding up the shopping experience.
The pilot is currently running at the Foreshore store in Cape Town, where customers can scan and pay for items themselves. A staff member remains on hand to assist shoppers and ensure the process operates smoothly.
According to reports, the company has dismissed suggestions that the trial could lead to job losses, saying that till operators and other staff will be upskilled or redeployed to other roles within stores.
IOL contacted Woolworths for comment but received an automated reply stating the company is in a closed period.
Last year, IOL also reported that Checkers introduced South Africa’s first smart shopping trolley, the Xpress Trolley, at two Western Cape stores. The trolley allows customers to scan and bag items as they shop, track a running total, and pay directly on the trolley without needing to queue at a traditional checkout.
In recent years, fast-food outlets in South Africa, including KFC and McDonald’s, have also rolled out self-service kiosks, allowing customers to place and pay for orders digitally without going through a cashier.
Neil Schreuder, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Shoprite Group, speaking about the Xpress Trolley at the time, said the pilot was intended to create a more seamless in-store shopping experience.
“The Xpress Trolley enhances convenience, improves speed, and keeps customers in control from the moment they enter the store to the moment they leave. Smart trolleys aren’t about the novelty of screens on trolleys – they’re about giving shoppers real-time control, creating a compelling shopping experience," Schreuder said.
“We are also excited about the potential it holds for Sixty60’s in-store pickers, specifically the additional speed and accuracy with which the in-store picking process can be completed.”
IOL Business