German grocery chain Aldi Nord is testing self-checkout solutions at several stores in the Netherlands. The scan & go technology, kiosks and exit terminals are supplied by Shopreme, an Austria-based self-checkout solutions provider.
Not to be confused with Aldi Sud, which operates Aldi stores in the U.S., Aldi Nord does own Trader Joe’s, though there are currently none in the Netherlands and the chain primarily runs independently.
This initiative marks the first time Aldi Nord is testing dedicated self-checkout areas across all selected pilot stores, according to a media release from Shopreme.
The test implements Shopreme’s scan & go technology in the retailer’s mobile app, allowing shoppers to use the app to scan products and make payments via their preferred payment method (e.g., iDEAL, debit card, credit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay). Shoppers are issued a digital receipt within the app, allowing them to leave the store by scanning an exit code at the Shopreme vector terminal, which opens the checkout gate.
Shoppers can also leverage an alternative purchase method by scanning their products at Aldi Nord’s self-checkout kiosks provided by Shopreme, which says its user interface “resembles a modern smartphone app,” per the release. The kiosks dispense a short exit code receipt that opens the vector exit terminal so shoppers can exit the store after payment.
"At Aldi Nord, we are systematically leveraging the advantages of digitization and automation,” Dr. Christian Bock, team lead self-service checkout & cashless payment at Aldi Nord, said in the release. “To offer our customers a hassle-free experience, we are testing different shopping experiences and evaluating modern checkout systems. Shopreme has proven to be a reliant partner to gain a bigger picture of future checkout technologies, also referring to our in-store processes. These aspects play a crucial role when developing a long-term checkout strategy."