Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Tesco) is set to roll out the Scan & Shop application (app) at all its stores, as part of its ongoing push towards the digitalization of its business as well as improving customers’ experience, within the first half of this year. Fifty-nine out of 60 Tesco stores have already been equipped with the Scan & Shop app, while Tesco Extra Selayang is expected to come online by June 2020.
The revolutionary app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, enables customers to keep track of their spending as they can scan the items themselves while shopping in Tesco stores. Once done, customers can go directly to the Self-Service Checkout Counters or Cashier Counters, provide the app-generated barcode and pay without the need of removing any of the items from their baskets or trolleys. In cutting off the need to remove the items from the basket or trolley for a cashier to scan, customers can save up to one minute in grocery shopping transactions.
“Our market research has shown that customers are time poor and shopping for everyday necessities has become a chore. These days, customers would like to find the items that they want and finish their shopping as quickly as possible,” said Tesco Customer Director, Vivian Yap. “In providing the Scan & Shop app in our stores, we are offering quick convenience to our customers.”
The Scan & Shop app is also beneficial towards those who are keeping a tight budget as the app allows them to track the total value of the items in their basket before making purchases.
“One of our major objectives at Tesco is to help customers manage their cost of living. We have done and is still doing this by ensuring that our Halal chicken prices have remained flat at RM5.99 per kilo since August 2016 and that our Tesco Own Brand range is at average 10 percent cheaper than national brands,” said Yap. “The Scan & Shop takes this to the next level as it allows customers to view and determine the total value of their basket simply through the app, even before making their purchases.”
In heeding the government’s call towards a cashless society, all Tesco stores also accept debit and credit cards as well as seven different e-wallets namely AliPay, Boost, GoodKredit, GrabPay, Kiple, Mcash, and TnG Digital.
“By allowing customers to scan their items and pay through their payment of choice using the Scan & Shop app, we are hoping that we can lessen the queue time and congestion at our stores especially during peak hours,” said Yap, adding that all future Tesco stores will also be Scan & Shop enabled.
Bank Negara Malaysia data have shown that Malaysia has an 86 percent internet penetration rate and a 64 percent mobile penetration rate, which translates to a higher willingness for customers to pay through e-wallets rather than cash, as of third quarter 2019.
