The Shoprite Group has successfully completed its largest-ever point-of-sale (POS) system implementation in record time, enhancing transaction efficiency and speed at its 29,191 till points across South Africa.
As part of its mission to become Africa’s most profitable omnichannel retailer, the Group introduced a new POS system designed to enable seamless integration between digital and in-store shopping channels.
Powered by GK Software, the system allows faster adoption of new technologies, underscoring the retailer’s commitment to a customer-first experience. By unifying store processes into a single, efficient platform, the new system elevates customer service and improves the overall in-store experience.
The bulk of this ambitious rollout was completed within five months. A total of 2,450 stores, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, LiquorShop, Little Me, Checkers Outdoor, and Petshop Science, are now live on the new POS system. The effort involved 58,382 hours of work, including milestones like converting 43 stores in a single day and upgrading 631 checkout lanes in one night.
The project created 130 additional contract positions and provided in-store skills training for nearly 40,000 employees.
“The implementation of the new POS system is a game-changer for us,” said Chris Shortt, Chief Technology Officer at the Group. “It not only enhances our operational efficiency but also significantly improves the shopping experience for our customers. This project underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of retail technology.”
With the South African rollout completed ahead of Black Friday and the festive season, the Group is well-positioned for the peak 2024 retail period. The rollout for stores in the rest of Africa is set to begin in early 2025.
The new system boosts cashier efficiency and transaction speed with larger, colour-coded screens and an intuitive user interface. A new cash management system enhances financial oversight and reporting, while streamlined processes make daily tasks faster and more efficient. For instance, the cash-up process is now 60% faster, allowing employees to end their trading day more quickly.
The improved system also transforms customer service by enabling seamless refund processing directly at the POS, ensuring a frictionless shopping experience across all stores. Automated tasks free up employees to focus on meaningful customer interactions, enhancing service quality.
Through its investment in digital transformation, the Shoprite Group remains agile in a rapidly evolving retail landscape, leveraging technology to deliver smarter pricing, promotions, forecasting, and product management. These advancements not only keep the Group ahead of the curve but also continually raise the bar for innovation and excellence in retail.
Checkers has launched its revamped Sixty60 app to millions of shoppers nationwide, following months of rigorous testing. The updated app features an improved layout, user interface, and multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
Shoppers in eligible areas can now enjoy precision delivery of over 10,000 general merchandise products from selected Checkers Hyper stores, all within 60-minute time slots. This eliminates the need for lengthy waits typically associated with household item deliveries.
“After intensive development, we’re confident that the next iteration of Sixty60 will again disrupt online retail in South Africa. Our precision delivery promise has been designed around our customers, which means no more waiting at home all day for your general merchandise order to arrive. Customers choose the 60-minute time slot for their Hyper delivery to arrive and can track the order in real-time as it gets delivered in a flash,” says Neil Schreuder, Chief of Strategy and Innovation for the Shoprite Group.
“Our homegrown innovation teams are powering our drive to become Africa’s most profitable omnichannel retailer,” Schreuder adds.
