Aldi is testing the checkout revolution: a new shopping experience for customers

Created: 07/18/2022, 17:49

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

Aldi Nord is opening a new, cashless branch in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.

© Fabian Strauch / dpa

Aldi Nord is opening a new, cashless branch in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.

The Aldi Shop & Go serves the discounter as a test project for new technologies.

Utrecht – From Wednesday, July 20, Aldi customers will have a new shopping experience in Utrecht: Aldi Nord is opening a new branch Aldi Shop & Go in the center of the Dutch city.

The special thing about it: Thanks to artificial intelligence, customers can shop there without cash registers and scanning devices, reports Aldi Nord in the Netherlands.

The innovation project serves as a test opportunity to optimize new technologies for customers and employees.

New Aldi branch with cashless AI system

The system works as follows in the new Aldi Shop & Go: AI cameras on the ceiling and sensors on the shelves can record the products selected by the customer.

To shop, customers only have to install the “Aldi Shop & Go App” beforehand.

This then ensures that the products that customers take with them are automatically paid for with the credit card connected to the app when they leave the store.

Customers of this branch no longer have to pay at a cash register or use a machine.

"The scanning of groceries is now a thing of the past," writes Aldi North Netherlands in its press release.

However, there are also human employees in the cashless Aldi branch: they are supposed to stock the shelves, bake fresh bread and answer customer questions.

Head of Aldi Nord Netherlands: cashless branch fits in with the strategy of the discounter

According to Jan Oostvogels, CEO of Aldi Nord Netherlands, the cashless branch "fits in with our strategy as a discounter to make shopping as easy as possible for customers".

He announces: “Together with our customers, we think about how we can make the shopping experience even more pleasant.

We know from research that our customers appreciate quick and easy checkout processes.

Our test store in Utrecht fits in perfectly.”