Scanning technology in use to purchase groceries. Photo credits to Fruit.net.

Customers at Sainsbury’s in Clapham North will now be able to purchase their groceries on their smartphones, while testing a new technology.

The new ‘scan, pay and go’ trial using personal technology is said to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Shoppers can download the app ‘SmartShop’ in order to avoid queuing by the till, and instead self-scan groceries and check out from anywhere in the store.

Sainsbury’s has announced that they have released the app due to popular customer demands of faster check-out systems.

Brianna Ale, 37, a regular shopper of the Clapham North branch, said: “I would say the app makes my life easier. I work long hours and can usually only shop in rush hours, so the app saves me a lot of time.”.

Thomas Riley, a Sainsbury’s store worker of the branch in Clapham North, said: “We think the app is exciting – but we are also seeing that more and more customers feel tempted to add one or two groceries to their bag, without scanning them.”. Riley added: “I personally think advanced security needs to be developed and put into place, if this technology is to continue.”.

SmartShop requires customers to speak to staff if they want to purchase any protected items, such as alcoholic beverages and painkillers. Items like these can only be bought by the till, for security and restriction reasons.

SmartShop also has other functions than scanning and check-out, as it also lets customers keep track of their grocery budget and shopping lists.

At the end of the trial, Sainsbury’s will ask for feedback to find out whether this technology should be put into practice in their supermarkets nationwide.

Sainsbury’s claims that the new app will not mean a replacement of staff, even if the technology is approved and spread to other branches. Customers will have the choice of how to pay, and the tills will still be manned.