Retail in South Africa just got a major upgrade. Checkers has officially rolled out the country’s very first smart shopping trolley, dubbed the Xpress Trolley. Designed to make shopping faster, smarter, and more convenient, this innovation is set to transform how South Africans move through the aisles.
What Exactly is the Xpress Trolley?
Think of it as your shopping assistant on wheels. The Xpress Trolley allows customers to:
Scan and bag items instantly as they shop
Track a live total of everything in the trolley
Skip queues completely by paying directly from the trolley
Navigate the store and view product info via an interactive touchscreen
Unlock personalised promotions based on their Xtra Savings profile
“This pilot allows us to reimagine the in-store journey using technology for a more frictionless shopping experience,” says Neil Schreuder, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Shoprite Group.
Where Can You Try It?
The pilot started with Shoprite’s Brackenfell head office staff and has now landed in two Checkers stores:
Checkers Hyper Brackenfell – 10 trolleys available
Checkers Constantia – 10 trolleys available
Here’s how it works: Shoppers scan their Xtra Savings card, use the provided bags, and scan each item before dropping it into the trolley. At the end, they simply pay with their bank card linked to their Sixty60 profile, grab the till slip, and exit through a dedicated lane.
Why It Matters
This is more than just a shiny tech gimmick. The Xpress Trolley speaks to global retail trends where convenience meets innovation.
Key benefits include:
No queues, no re-bagging
Better in-store efficiency for Sixty60 staff
Budget-friendly shopping with real-time totals
“The Xpress Trolley enhances convenience, improves speed, and keeps customers in control from the moment they enter the store to the moment they leave,” adds Schreuder.
What’s Next for SA Retail?
While smart trolley technology has been tested internationally, this is a first for South Africa.
The Shoprite Group is using this pilot to test, learn, and refine before expanding to more stores. If successful, smart trolleys could soon become a standard part of the South African shopping experience – reshaping how we shop, one scan at a time.
With Checkers leading the way, the future of South African retail is not just digital – it’s smarter, faster, and shopper-first.
Read more: Checkers Unveils Luxe Fresh X Flagship at Hyde Park Corner
