Neste opens Europe’s first RFID-based self-service store in Finland – purchases can be scanned through a shopping bag
Neste Corporation, Press Release, 3 June 2020 at 7:30 am (EET)
Neste opens a new fully automated Easy Deli store on 3 June 2020 in the center of Helsinki, Finland. The store uses RFID technology, developed in Finland by Nordic ID, which scans all purchases made by the customer at once, for example, through a shopping bag or a backpack. It is the first self-service convenience store in Europe using RFID technology.
“Consumer shopping behavior is changing rapidly. We want to be part of this development and offer new kinds of smoother and faster customer experiences. The Easy Deli product scanner is the first of its kind in Finland and a huge leap forward compared to conventional self-checkouts. This makes the shopping experience much quicker and easier. The closest references are found in China where the RFID-based shops have received positive feedback for their user-friendliness,” says Jukka Peltoniemi who is responsible for automated services at Neste.
The Easy Deli store will be opened in conjunction with the Neste Express station in Ratakatu, Helsinki. During the summer of 2020, Neste will also open another Easy Deli store using the RFID technology in the Helsinki area. The company aims to further open new Easy Deli stores in conjunction with unmanned Neste stations in Riga, Latvia, during 2020. The 24-hour self-service stores complement Neste’s range of services alongside conventional stations.
Quicker service and less waste with RFID technology
Nordic ID develops RFID-based (Radio Frequency Identification) item tracking and tracing services for collecting product data. RFID technology allows individual products to be scanned without visual contact. As a result, a large number of products can be scanned in only a few seconds. Furthermore, there are less scanning errors, as not every product needs to be scanned separately.
“The idea for this solution was triggered by the changes in consumers’ shopping behavior. People want to go shopping when it suits them – close to their home and around the clock. They do not want to wait in line and may even abandon their purchases if the line is perceived too long. Using barcode- based self-checkouts may even take longer than traditional manned checkouts. Scanning the barcode of every product may be inconvenient for customers not familiar with the system, making purchasing even slower,” says Juuso Lehmuskoski, CEO of Nordic ID.
In the retail industry, fashion and apparel were the first to adopt RFID technology. In addition to making shopping more precise and quicker, the technology enables anticipating and reducing food waste and preventing theft.
“No more barcodes or scanning products one by one”
To enter the Easy Deli store in Ratakatu, customers start by registering in the Neste mobile app. This ensures secure shopping and prevents any misuse and vandalism.
After registering, customers pick out their products and place them on the RFID-based self-checkout, which scans all the products simultaneously in only a few seconds. Finally, customers pay for their purchases using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a payment card.
“The Easy Deli concept was previously tested in Vantaa, Finland, with consumer experiences being encouraging. In addition to quick and smooth shopping, the Easy Deli store is versatile thanks to its mobility. The store can be set up quickly without any construction or excavation work. It has been built using sustainable and eco-friendly materials, and its energy consumption has already been minimized during the building stage. If there is enough demand in the market, we could expand the shop concept in new locations,” Peltoniemi says.
More information: www.neste.fi/easydeli
Neste Corporation
Susanna Sieppi
Vice President, Communications (act.)
Further information: Jukka Peltoniemi, responsible for automated services, Neste. Please contact Neste’s media service, tel. +358 50 458 5076 / media@neste.com (weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Nordic ID: Juuso Lehmuskoski, CEO, Nordic ID. Tel. +358 40 510 3790 / juuso.lehmuskoski@nordicid.com.
Neste in brief
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates sustainable solutions for transport, business, and consumer needs. Our wide range of renewable products enable our customers to reduce climate emissions. We are the world's largest producer of renewable diesel refined from waste and residues, introducing renewable solutions also to the aviation and plastics industries. We are also a technologically advanced refiner of high-quality oil products. We want to be a reliable partner with widely valued expertise, research, and sustainable operations. In 2019, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 15.8 billion. In 2020, Neste placed 3rd on the Global 100 list of the most sustainable companies in the world. Read more: neste.com.
Nordic ID in brief
Nordic ID is a full service PaaS (Platform as a Service) solutions company aimed at becoming the go-to partner for businesses that struggle with managing their flow of items. Our passion for enabling customers to manage their routine operations with ease, speed and efficiency, inspired us to develop all-in-one solutions that help companies to optimize the flow and count of goods. With our full line of RFID tracking devices and a customizable, adaptable cloud platform we simplify once tedious routine tasks and enable total process transparency. Nordic ID (NORDID) is listed on Nasdaq First North. Additional information: nordicid.com.
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