Customers in the Swedish town of Viken can now purchase essentials after-hours.
Supermarkets and convenience stores are not always open when consumers are in need of supplies, and a new convenience store in Viken is presenting a solution to that problem.
According to a report from Business Insider Tech, customers can now purchase milk, bread and other small essentials from a convenience store that has no sleep-deprived employees – in fact, the store has no employees at all. A new store, which opened in late January, now allows customers to use their smartphones to purchase essentials 24-hours a day, and there is no need for store employees.
Customers must simply wave their smartphone running the Swedish banking app BankID to enter the store, and they then use their phone to scan and purchase individual items. The store logs customers as they enter, and the system will only admit customers with no history of banking issues.
Business Insider Tech reported that customers receive a bill for their purchases at the end of the month, and the only staff that the store requires is someone to stock the shelves with products. In order to avoid shoplifting, the store is equipped with six security cameras, and store owner Robert Ilijason receives text messages if the front door is forced open or remains open for longer than eight seconds.
So far, the store has not had any theft problems.
According to Business Insider Tech, the greatest obstacle that Ilijason is facing is reaching out to less tech-savvy consumers, such as the elderly. The hope is that the store will eventually allow access at the swipe of a credit card, which would make the store a bit more user-friendly.