Shoptalk Europe - Carrefour’s Elodie Perthuisot dismisses tech for sake of tech
Shoptalk Europe 2022 kicked off in London yesterday.
Keynote speakers on day one included Elodie Perthuisot, Chief E Commerce, Digital Transformation and Data Officer & EXCOM member at Carrefour.
Perthuisot revealed her vision on the future of grocery and the technologies, tactics and strategies that she believes are needed to win in the long-term.
In a LinkedIn post, she said: “London is indeed a great place to be at the moment.”
“Today, I attended Shoptalk Europe 2022. It is striking to visit the booths, to meet the startups and the tech companies there, and to see how much technology is changing the way we do retail, on every part of our value chain.”
She added: “In my keynote, I explained what we in Carrefour are looking for in our digital transformation: no tech for the sake of tech, but tech that gives us solutions to improve our business.”
“Key examples are tools for our associates and store managers, that give them access to relevant data, information and mobile solutions without leaving the store's floor.”
Flash 10/10 concept store
Last year, Carrefour opened a Flash 10/10 concept store in Paris.
The convenience store – developed in collaboration with US startup AiFi – is pitched as the first of its kind in France, and is located at 11 avenue Parmentier, in the capital’s eleventh arrondissement.
Flash 10/10 ("10 seconds to shop and 10 seconds to pay”) features a shopping journey that does not involve having to scan any products and quick payment.
Customers don't need to take items out of their bags. They can enter and exit the store without having to pass through a gateway. There is no need to download an app or register beforehand. And they can view their total spend in real-time.
Four employees will be on hand to open the store and oversee its operation. They will also manage its new e-commerce services (including Pedestrian Click and Collect).
The experience is made possible by 60 HD cameras, nearly 2,000 sensors built into connected shelves, an algorithm for interpreting data and a proprietary tablet payment system.
Customers are tracked anonymously as a virtual avatar, allocated to them as soon as they enter the store. The products that they pick up are automatically detected and then added to their virtual basket.
Once they have finished shopping, customers get their baskets validated at a kiosk and then pay contactlessly. They can get an electronic receipt sent to them immediately by scanning a QR code. An automatic checkout kiosk is also available for those wishing to pay with cash.
“The Flash concept checks our customers’ expectations. They want to be able enter the store easily, know what they are buying, pay quickly and then leave. Compared with other existing concepts, with Carrefour Flash, customers get speed and accessibility in a unique way,” Perthuisot said.
