Asda, who are the 2nd largest grocery retailer in the UK, are about to launch the an unmanned store for click & collect from grocery and general merchandise in the next fortnight. The temperature controlled ‘Intelligent Pod’ concept works as follows: – Customers order their products online then drive to the unmanned store where they will be able to collect the order from the automated locker. The customer will activate the locker using their mobile; one of the ways to do this will be via scanning a QR code using the Asda mobile app.
The locker will then collect the trays containing the customer order and present to the customer who can then load into their car. The 24/7 unmanned store, located just outside Liverpool will pick it’s orders from a nearby/neighbouring store. Intelligent Pods are just another example of where retailers start to respond to the customer demand for greater convenience. Asda have already rolled out click & collect to all their bricks & mortar stores. By end of the year will also have implemented click & collect in around 100 of their petrol stations and will have completed their trial of collection points at London Underground stations. The battle for convenience continues..
