In several EDEKA stores across Germany, customers have been able to "Scan, bag & pay the efficient way!" for almost six months.
EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen mbH, one of the leading food retailers in Germany, is revolutionizing the customer shopping experience with stationary self-checkout systems for more convenience, shorter queues and improved service. EDEKA has once again chosen Pyramid Computer GmbH as its hardware supplier. The two companies have enjoyed a successful partnership since 2017, with several hundred service terminals already in use in EDEKA stores across the region. The self-checkout kiosks were installed for the first time last autumn at the E Center Scharrer in Fürth.
As there was no comparable/suitable SCO product on the market, EDEKA decided to have a customized solution developed by Pyramid Computer . Thanks to years of experience in the development of flexible solutions and a great deal of technical know-how in the IT sector, the project was realized within a very short time. In particular, the direct exchange and critical advice/support from Pyramid product and project management was crucial for EDEKA. This made it possible to realize a space-saving, service-friendly and uniquely designed product exclusively for EDEKA.
"Pyramid Computer can look back on many years of experience in the field of kiosk design and development. Our team analyzes the customer's wishes and guarantees sound advice in terms of look, feel and functionality," says Alexander Hahn, Head of Sales and Service and member of the management team at PYRAMID.
Flexible, customized SCO solution
The real challenge for EDEKA was to find a suitable solution from the various self-checkout models that best suited its own corporate philosophy, the needs of the sector and the shopping behavior of its customers.
EDEKA therefore attached great importance to the fact that the self-checkout solution is not a standard product from the catalog, but must offer maximum flexibility in order to meet the respective local market conditions. The kiosks are designed in such a way that different payment modules and checkouts can be used depending on the regional company. A scale or hand scanner can also be added as an option.
"We wanted to work with a company that is a true partner in project implementation and that responds to our individual needs. Once again, PYRAMD has proven to be a good, reliable partner. The SCO has potential and is stylish to boot," says Pierre Vieweg, Global Head of IT Technology at EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen mbH.
Higher productivity and increased customer satisfaction
From the customer's point of view, the main driver for using SCO in the avoidance of queues. In the long term, however, customers will only use such systems if they can also benefit from other advantages. The self-determined speed of scanning and paying can be one such benefit. In order to meet with lasting customer acceptance, self-service solutions must be clear, easy to understand and simple to use. The POLYTOUCH® portal is designed so that every transaction can be processed in seconds, which increases the efficiency of the payment process immensely. EDEKA deliberately opted for a cashless version with a contactless payment function.
"EDEKA customers can look forward to speed, efficiency and maximum user-friendliness at the self-checkout," says Stefano Lai, Key Account & Business Development Manager at Pyramid Computer GmbH. "Thanks to the express checkouts, customers can avoid long waiting times at conventional checkouts, which can never be completely avoided despite maximum staffing at peak times."
The self-checkout kiosks are already in use in three (Northern Bavaria-Saxony-Thuringia, Southern Bavaria and Minden-Hanover) of the seven regional companies, with more to follow by the end of the year.
POLYTOUCH® Portal - Exclusively for EDEKA
- User-friendly, self-explanatory interface & easy to operate
- Individual solution, tailored to the respective requirements of the different regional companies
- High customer acceptance thanks to accelerated checkout process and increased customer convenience
- Shorter queues, fewer abandoned purchases
- Optimum utilization of space capacity thanks to small form factor
Would you like to find out more about our SCO line? Then register for our Solution Stream as part of the EHI Innovations Days on March 18 at 2:00 pm!
