Kmart Australia announces huge self-serve checkout change in stores ahead of Christmas
Kmart Australia is trialling two new self-service systems ahead of Christmas in a bid to make the shopping experience ‘easier’ for customers.
New ‘select & collect’ counters are designed to help shoppers purchase ‘large and bulky’ items for collection and payment at checkout.
While the new ‘click & collect’ counters will bring items from the warehouse to the customer using robotics.
The latest in-store features are currently offered at the Eastland store in Melbourne, but will be rolled out nationally if the trial is successful.
The new ‘select and collect’ counters (pictured) are designed to help customers purchase ‘large and bulky’ items for collection and payment at checkout
While the new ‘click & collect’ counters (pictured) will bring items from the warehouse to the customer using robotics
Ben Smith, Kmart’s general property manager, said news.com.au that the automated click-and-collect system allows customers to “have their products delivered automatically through warehouse robotics working behind the scenes.”
He said the benefit of the new selection and collection service is that customers can more easily access bulk products purchased online because the kiosks are located at the front of the store.
They are collected by the ‘direct to boot’ service and customers can minimize the hassle of moving unwieldy items around the store.
The latest in-store features are currently only offered at the Eastland store in Melbourne, but will be rolled out nationally if the route is successful
The move was also praised on LinkedIn by Leon Condon, chairman of the Engagis and Raise Foundation.
“Great to see Kmart opening a store of the future in Eastlands today, beautifully combining the online store with the in-store experience,” he wrote.
‘Our self-service kiosks in the ‘Select & Collect’ experience help you shop for an extensive range of large and bulky items such as furniture and bicycles.
‘As simple as 1,2,3. The kiosks are also integrated with robotics so that once in the store, online shoppers can ‘Click & Collect’ and receive their purchases in about a minute.
‘Sell easier and faster with an extensive range of great products at a good price.’
This isn’t the first time store changes have been tried at the Eastland store.
Last month, Kmart confirmed that services and new ideas are being put to the test – including moving checkouts from the middle of the store to the front, to make way for expanded product lines.
One woman posted a video of the ‘new checkout location’ at the front of the store and admitted she was delighted with the development.