From depositing money to grocery shopping to access to vehicles, unattended retail solutions are stepping up to meet a variety of needs in an age of unattended retail solutions.
Unattended technology providers are finding new ways to deliver everyday consumer services and new conveniences. In recent weeks, several companies across a variety of industries introduced unattended solutions designed to help businesses address customer needs more efficiently.
June’s PYMNTS Unattended Retail Tracker™ highlights the latest trends in unattended retail technology and how these solutions are disrupting the old way several businesses, including laundromats and banks, operate.
A brave new unattended world
If recent developments in unattended solutions are any indication, brick-and-mortar businesses are in for some big changes.
For starters, supermarkets and their checkout lines could be headed for extinction as a result of a new development from Amazon, which has been testing its cashless grocery stores in the U.S. and has designs on bringing the service to the U.K. It may be a while before Amazon brings its unattended grocery service across the pond, but the U.K. is already getting a glimpse of how unattended solutions could change the traditional brick-and-mortar bank. Lloyd’s recently announced that it will redesign its bank branches to have staff move around with tablet devices to address customer needs.
Beyond banks and supermarkets, laundry facilities could also get a new tool to help customers pay for washing and drying machines. PayRange is making its mobile payment acceptance solution available to commercial laundromats to help merchants boost revenue, manage prices and gain new data tools. For laundromat customers, the solution means no more searching for quarters and instead paying to clean clothes via their smartphones.
Putting urban residents, gig workers in the driver’s seat
As urban populations grow, some major automakers see a chance to reduce traffic congestion by expanding access to car sharing services. These services allow urban residents who want occasional access to a vehicle the ability to reserve one using a smartphone app. The user’s smartphone can also be used to unlock the vehicle’s doors and start the ignition. No keys or rental car associates required. For the June Tracker’s feature story, PYMNTS caught up with Bob Tiderington, senior manager of member management and operations for General Motors’ Maven service, about how unattended car sharing is offering new urban mobility solutions and, among others, trying make life more convenient for gig workers.
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About the Tracker
The PYMNTS.com Unattended Retail Tracker™ serves as a bimonthly framework for the space, providing coverage of the most recent news and trends, as well as a provider directory to highlight the key players contributing across the segments that comprise the expansive unattended retail ecosystem.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
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