Business
Checkers Rolls Out Touchscreen Smart Trolleys to Skip Queues in South Africa
If you’ve ever stood in a long supermarket line wishing there was a quicker way out, Checkers may have just answered your call. South Africa’s biggest grocery retailer has unveiled a pilot of its new Xpress Trolley, a touchscreen-enabled smart cart that lets you scan, bag, and pay for items without stopping at a till.
A First for Local Shoppers
While smart carts are already being tested in major overseas supermarkets, this marks the first local rollout. Built by the retailer’s in-house innovation arm, ShopriteX, the pilot is being positioned as a glimpse into the future of South African grocery shopping.
The technology is designed to streamline every step of the shop. A large screen sits on the trolley’s handle, with a built-in barcode scanner. Customers start by scanning their Xtra Savings card and linking it to their Checkers Sixty60 profile. From there, the screen allows shoppers to scan each item, track their running total, view product details, and even receive personalised promotions.
How It Works in Practice
The process is simple:
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Scan your Xtra Savings card to activate the trolley.
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Place Checkers-provided bags into the trolley.
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Scan each item before putting it in.
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Track your live basket, edit items if needed, and check promotions.
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Pay directly from your Sixty60-linked card at a dedicated checkout gate.
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Collect your slip and walk out; no queues, no unpacking.
Concierges will be available at pilot stores to help shoppers get started.
Where You’ll See It
The trial begins at Checkers Hyper Brackenfell in Cape Town, where 10 trolleys are being introduced following internal testing. Another 10 will be rolled out at Checkers Constantia soon after. The group says insights from these pilots will shape whether the innovation expands nationwide.
Beyond Convenience
For customers, the appeal is clear: no queues, no double-packing, and a smoother in-store journey. But Checkers notes there is also potential behind the scenes. Sixty60’s in-store pickers, the people filling online delivery baskets, could use the tech to complete orders faster and with greater accuracy.
Reimagining the Shop Floor
Checkers says the project is about “reimagining the in-store journey.” It’s also a strategic response to how South Africans are increasingly demanding speed and convenience in everyday shopping, fuelled by online delivery apps and time-strapped lifestyles.
It remains to be seen whether the smart trolley will roll out across the country, but for now, Cape Town shoppers will be the first to test whether this is the future of local grocery shopping.
Also read: US Tariffs Could Bring Coffee Price Relief to South Africans in 2025
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Source: Business Tech
Featured Image: Greenstone Shopping Centre
