Carrefour Launches Self-Service Shopping

Carrefour’s Westgate Mall now has a self-service checkout, allowing customers to shop and complete purchases without the assistance of cashiers.

The service’s counters are equipped with digital screens and hand-held barcode readers, allowing customers to scan items and pay using cashless methods such as M-Pesa.

Dubai-based the service, which is reserved for shoppers with less than 15 items, will be rolled out in other stores across the country in the coming months, according to Majid Al Futtaim, the exclusive holder of Carrefour’s franchise in Kenya.

“We are proposing a new fast solution for payment when customers complete their shopping at Carrefour,” said Christophe Orcet, Majid Al Futtaim retail regional director for East Africa.

Customers will access the service by clicking ‘Start’ on the digital screen, scanning their items with the barcode reader, and completing the transaction by tapping ‘Finish & Pay’.

Mr. Orcet stated that Carrefour’s self-checkout service is the first of its kind in Kenya, providing customers with faster transactions and eliminating the inconveniences caused by long lines.

Carrefour has implemented the quick and convenient service in its other markets, including the Kingdom of Bahrain and Qatar.

“Customer feedback in the markets where the service has been rolled out is extremely positive,” he said.

Carrefour operates 19 outlets in Kenya, 15 of which are located in Nairobi while Kisumu and Mombasa are home to two stores each.