Croatia’s Konzum Opens Its First ‘Smart’ Store In South-Eastern Europe

Croatian supermarket chain Konzum has opened its first ‘smart’ store in the south-eastern European region.

The store is located in Zagreb (Kurelčeva 1), Croatia, and it is completely cashierless and scan-free.

Customers can simply enter the store, scan a QR code from the Konzum mobile app, take the items that they want off the shelf, and walk out.

Payment is automatically made through the debit or credit card account stored in the app, while the invoice is sent to the app and a registered email address.

Konzum Smart

The retailer’s ‘smart’ concept is based on computer vision for identification.

In the store, the retailer has installed around 150 cameras, which monitor the items that customers take from the shelves and charge them only for those items with which they leave the store.

The store is designed to provide a fast and simple customer experience, allowing customers to shop without having to wait in line or scan items.

Customers have at their disposal groceries, as well as hygiene and household items from a range of more than 1,700 SKUs. The retailer also focuses on the fresh department, drinks, and the to-go assortment.

Alcohol and other products that should not be available to minors are secured by additional security features inside the store.

Technology Partner

The AI system for article recognition was supplied by California-based technology company i5.

The concept also encourages joint shopping – for example, if a couple comes to the store, the items that each person chooses from the shelf are charged together, on one bill.

Konzum’s first fully automated store is open Monday through Saturday, from 08.00 to 21.00, and also on Sundays, from 08.00 to 13.00.

Since the start of the year, the Croatian retailer has invested €25 million in the modernisation of its network, upgrading ten and opening 20 new stores.

Source: ESM Magazine