Checkers, the premium supermarket brand under Shoprite, has rolled out a pilot program introducing high-tech “Xpress Trolleys” in select South African stores. According to Reuters, the smart carts allow shoppers to scan products while they shop, track their spending on a built-in screen, and pay directly on the trolley without visiting a checkout counter.
The innovation, developed by Shoprite’s technology arm ShopriteX, also provides in-store navigation features designed to guide customers efficiently through aisles. According to TechCentral, the pilot began with 20 trolleys tested internally by staff before being launched to the public at Checkers Hyper Brackenfell and Checkers Constantia in Cape Town.
Neil Schreuder, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Shoprite, said the project aims to deliver a frictionless shopping experience by combining digital convenience with physical retail. According to News24, Schreuder emphasized that the technology gives shoppers more control from entry to exit, eliminating queues and enhancing efficiency.
The initiative reflects Shoprite’s broader push into omnichannel retail, complementing its successful Sixty60 delivery app. According to IOL, the group is positioning Checkers as a market leader in premium and tech-driven shopping experiences to compete more directly with rivals such as Woolworths.
If successful, analysts say the program could scale nationwide, cutting operational costs, easing pressure on checkout staff, and boosting margins at a time when South African retailers face rising costs and shifting consumer expectations. According to Reuters, this marks the first local deployment of smart trolley technology, already in use in markets like the U.S., Chile, and Australia.
