Tesco leaves London and switches on GetGo Aston University Express checkout free store in Birmingham
Tesco has opened its latest GetGo location, Aston University Express. Powered by Trigo technology, this is located in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city.
The university location is the final instalment of Tesco’s announced three autonomous stores deployment throughout the UK, the other sites being Chiswell Street Express in central London, and Fulham Reach Express in Parrs Way, London.
It is the largest autonomous Tesco store to date at over 4,000 square metres.
In an online post, Trigo notes: “The location has another distinct quality, its largely student demographic who shop at the store poses a unique use case for autonomous store technology - the seasonal shopper.”
“These features, alongside the store’s hybrid format, make it a classic application of autonomous store technology.”
In a LinkedIn post, dated 16th February, Tom Simmons, Product Manager, GetGo at Tesco, said: “Exciting day yesterday as we switched GetGo on at Aston University Express in Birmingham.”
“We're delighted to take GetGo to a new part of the country as this is our first store outside of London/South East. Lots of positive feedback on day one, looking forward to hearing more from our customers over the coming weeks/months.”
Amazon Fresh
Amazon recently opened Amazon Fresh checkout-free stores in Croydon and Monument.
In addition to a convenience grocery offering, customers can also pick up items purchased on Amazon.co.uk at an Amazon Hub, and return items without needing to package the product or print a shipping label.
These stores also, for the first time, feature manned checkouts, the others being powered entirely by Just Walk Out technology.
An Amazon spokesperson told RTIH: “At Monument and East Croydon, customers have the option to either shop with Just Walk Out technology where they enter through a gateless opening and identify themselves by scanning either their in-store QR code or payment card at the exit gate, or choose the more traditional method of paying at a checkout.”
Why has Amazon chosen this option and will this be the strategy going forward, i.e. a mix of checkout-free and manned tills?
The spokesperson responded: “Amazon is always innovating on behalf of the customer and we will continue to find ways in which we can better serve our customers. We’re excited to welcome customers into these stores and look forward to their feedback.”
Make of that what you will. Our hot take: Amazon bet big on Just Walk Out technology and discovered that, shock, horror, it wasn’t for everyone.
So, expect a hybrid approach from now on as the e-commerce giant attempts to make inroads in to the hugely competitive UK grocery stores space.
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