SOUTH AFRICA – Shoprite Holdings, Africa’s largest supermarket retailer, has completed its most extensive point-of-sale (POS) system implementation in record time, improving transaction efficiency and speed across its 29,191 till points in South Africa.
The retailer’s new POS system aims to enable seamless, integrated shopping across both digital and in-store channels, with the goal of becoming Africa’s most profitable omnichannel retailer.
The majority of the rollout was achieved in just five months, bringing 2,450 Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, LiquorShop, Little Me, Checkers Outdoor, and Petshop Science stores online with the new POS system.
Chris Shortt, Chief Technology Officer at the Group, described the implementation as a game-changer, stating, “It not only enhances our operational efficiency but also significantly improves the shopping experience for our customers. This project underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of retail technology.”
According to the company, the GK Software POS system allows for quicker adoption of new technologies and reinforces the retailer’s commitment to a customer-first experience.
The program integrates all store processes into a unified, efficient platform, enhancing customer service and the in-store experience. The new system improves cashier efficiency and transaction speed with larger, color-coded screens and an intuitive user interface.
It also features a new cash management system for better financial oversight and reporting. Customer service processes are transformed with seamless refund processing directly at the POS, providing a frictionless customer experience across all stores.
Additionally, automated processes save time on daily tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful customer interactions. The streamlined cash-up process is now 60% faster, enabling employees to conclude the trading day more efficiently and leave stores earlier.
Investments in digital transformation ensure the retailer remains agile in a fast-changing environment, leading to smarter pricing, promotions, forecasting, and product ranging.
These advancements not only keep the Group ahead but also continually raise the bar for excellence and innovation.
With its South African rollout completed, Shoprite is now well positioned to be future-ready, leveraging technology to offer a more seamless shopping experience. The rollout for stores in the rest of Africa will commence in early 2025.
The retailer has also completed its nationwide rollout of the new Sixty60 app, offering some early perks exclusively to Capetonian shoppers. The new Sixty60 app features a refined layout and user interface, along with multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
In addition to a wide range of groceries and essentials, the app now provides precision delivery of products from Checkers Hyper stores in eligible areas.
Shoprite announced that over 10,000 larger general merchandise products are available for same-day delivery within precise sixty-minute time slots, allowing customers to avoid lengthy waits and inconvenient all-day delivery times typically associated with household product orders.
Enhancing the shopping experience in Cape Town, Checkers has opened two new stores—one in the heart of the city at the corner of Adderley and Strand Streets, and another in the upscale Riverlands estate in Observatory.
These new supermarkets expand the brand’s footprint in previously underserved areas, offering a world-class shopping experience and top-notch service to local residents and office workers alike.
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