First Smart Point of Sale, Auchan GO, Opened

Auchan Hungary's new, innovative retail unit, the first Auchan GO, has been officially opened. The smart point of sale is available to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because it does not require staff.

Using the OkAuchan app, you can enter the store at any time, the value of the goods you buy is automatically deducted from your bill and you're ready to go. It's a commerce solution that's becoming increasingly popular in Western Europe and overseas, offering a non-stop, easy and quick way to shop. The new Auchan GO is located in Bikás Park in Újbuda and is supported by the Auchan hypermarket in Albertfalva.

The new store format is just 18 sqm, open 0/24 and has a lightweight design that can be set up almost anywhere.
The unmanned smart point of sale operates with an AI-based camera system and a weight-sensing shelving system in compliance with GDPR regulations. An OkAuchan app is used to log into the automated unit and the entire purchase can be processed through the app. Payment is also done through the app, so no credit card is required, but it must be registered in the app beforehand.

The vending machine shop is located at the corner of Bártfai utca and Vahot utca in Újbuda (District XI). The model, which is a novelty in Hungary, focuses on three main target groups and has been adapted to their living environment. For families using the park and the playground, snacks, biscuits and refreshments are mainly for children, while sportsmen and sportswomen are offered isotonic drinks and energy bars, and nearby residents basic foodstuffs.

Alcohol and other age-restricted goods will not be sold, but popular private label products will be available, adding value and exclusivity to the store, which will have a total of 420 products on special weight-sensitive shelves.

The design of Auchan GO has been carefully considered to fit in with the green environment. It has a wood-clad roof, which is planned to be covered with plants, trees, shrubs and perennials have been planted in the immediate vicinity and the paving has been renovated. In addition, the sustainability of Auchan GO will be enhanced by eliminating the paper block and by energy-saving solutions.

"This new format is also an interesting experiment for Auchan Hungary to test this quick and easy 0/24-hour small shopping outlet," Géza Vincze, Managing Director of Auchan Hungary, stated.

Interestingly, Auchan will be the only retail chain in Hungary that will have both the smallest (18 sqm) and the largest (more than 15,000 sqm) point of sale in the country. "This is not a coincidence, of course, but reflects our ambition to try to meet every customer need and situation in the future. Auchan GO was created specifically to meet the needs of the local community, the families who play sports in the park and play with their children, and we want to serve them with a range of products that are simply for them, with permanent opening hours. All they need to shop is their smartphone, which is usually at everyone's fingertips," the Managing Director added.

Auchan's technology partner Kende Retail Operation Ltd. is an innovative tech startup that aims to take the shopping experience to a new level by using cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced camera systems and on-shelf weight sensors, revolutionising this business segment of retail.