Skip the Queue: Checkers’ Smart Trolley Trial Wins Over Cape Town Shoppers

Imagine walking into a supermarket, filling your trolley, and simply walking outwithout ever standing in a checkout line. For shoppers at two Cape Town Checkers stores, this isn’t a futuristic fantasy. It’s the current reality, thanks to a quiet trial of “Xpress Trolleys” that is turning heads and speeding up the weekly shop.

Since August 2025, Checkers Hyper in Brackenfell and Checkers Constantia have been testing trolleys equipped with a built-in tablet and barcode scanner. The process is simple but transformative: you scan your XtraSavings card to start, link it to your saved bank card, and then scan each item as you drop it into your bag in the trolley. When you’re done, you stroll through a dedicated lane. The payment happens automatically, and you’re on your way.

From Curiosity to Habit: Shoppers Are Convinced

The initial customer curiosity has quickly hardened into enthusiasm. Shoprite reports that more than a third of those who tried the smart trolley used it again within a month, with average monthly usage now four times higher than at launch. “Ease of use and convenience” are the feedback highlights.

But the real selling point is speed. During the hectic December festive period, the smart trolley lanes processed shoppers over 75% faster than traditional manned checkouts. For time-pressed customers on a top-up shop, that’s a game-changer.

The trolley does more than just scan. It acts as a digital assistant, displaying a running total, available discounts, and even a store map. It can nudge you with personalised reminderslike if you’ve added pasta but forgotten the sauceensuring you never miss a promotion or a crucial item on your list.

The Delicate Balance: Efficiency vs. Employment

This innovation enters a South African retail landscape that has been cautious about self-checkout technology. High shrinkage (theft) rates and valid concerns over job losses have made retailers think twice. Internationally, systems like Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” have even been scaled back due to economic viability issues.

Checkers’ approach with the scanned barcode trolley is a pragmatic middle ground. It still requires customer interaction to scan, maintaining a layer of accountability, while eliminating the queue bottleneck. Shoprite emphasizes the technology is about streamlining processes and enhancing the customer experience, suggesting it may complement rather than wholly replace human cashiers.

What’s Next for the Smart Trolley?

The trial is providing invaluable data. Shoprite has noted the system is most popular for smaller, frequent shops rather than large monthly hauls. The positive reception in Cape Town paves the way for a potential national rollout, which would mark a significant shift in how South Africans buy groceries.

For now, the message from the successful pilot is clear: South African shoppers are ready for a smarter, faster checkout experience. As one satisfied customer put it, the greatest luxury isn’t choiceit’s time. And Checkers’ smart trolleys are giving a little bit of that precious commodity back.

{Source: Mybroadband}

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