A long way from the corner shop

There is a coming revolution in retail and it is attributable to advances in technology, from augmented reality, to payment via apps or mobile phones and wireless tagging of stock.

One of the most revolutionary is a shop that comes to the customer. The Moby Mart is currently being trialled in Shanghai. This driverless vehicle contains a small grocery shop, which will drive itself to wherever the customer wants. There are currently two in existence, with plans for many more, although the regulations surrounding driverless vehicles will have to be ironed out first.

Meanwhile, ‘real’ stores are still doing good business but Amazon and Alibaba want to take shopping in person to a whole new level by offering the best of both the physical and digital worlds.

In their futuristic outlets, there are shelves stocked with a range of items – but no staff. Customers swipe their mobile phone to enter and scan each item they want to buy and then pay the bill using an online payment system. If they run into difficulties, an assistant is available by video-link. However, this means that four people can run a chain of 400 stores.

Another innovation is Alibaba’s Taobao café, which is a pop-up eatery with no cashiers. Instead, customers are identified via facial recognition as they go in. They then choose what they want to eat and pay using their mobile phone.

Meanwhile, Amazon is planning on going further with its Amazon Go, a bricks and mortar shop for Amazon staff in Seattle. The shop employs no assistants and has also eliminated the checkout. Customers walk in, scan their mobile to register their arrival and then put what they want straight into their bag. When they leave the shop, sensors recognise what they have chosen and payment for the goods is collected through their Amazon account.

What would Arkwright say?