Mobile Checkout Finds Fresh Fuel From 7-Eleven

Mobile checkout is getting a boost from one of the largest retailers, further evidence of the technology’s continuous move deeper into the consumer mainstream.

According to a report from Chain Store Age, “7-Eleven is introducing mobile checkout to select locations in New York City. The new frictionless shopping experience is integrated into the 7Rewards loyalty program in the convenience retailer’s mobile app. Customers can automatically earn and redeem any available 7Rewards points or coupons, as well as in-store promotions, when performing mobile checkout.”

To serve customers who want to shop in stores and online, retailers and solution providers in general are working to offer a unified retail experience across multiple channels. They aim to help shoppers move seamlessly from browsing a merchant’s website to perusing the aisles of brick-and-mortar stores through shared carts and other digital payment experiences.

Other Mobile Pushes

In some cases, brands like Loblaw and Nike are letting shoppers use their mobile phones to pay for their purchases at physical stores. According to the PYMNTS mPOS Tracker, almost two thirds – or 63 percent – of retailers plan to offer this option within the next three years.

Last year, in fact, Dollar General rolled out a new mobile app that enables customers to scan and pay for items in the store using their smartphones. The app, which was released in May, is available in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play. Shoppers scan their selections as digital coupons are automatically applied; they can pay by scanning a quick response (QR) code at a dedicated checkout tablet at the front of the store. Customers bag their purchases at a checkout station, and a receipt is available through the app or via email.

Bigger retail chains also are promoting the mobile checkout push, something that seems likely to gain steam during the upcoming holiday season.

With Walmart’s offering, for instance, workers carry mobile devices to help customers check out, with store associates stationed in well-trafficked areas. The retailer said, according to reports, “associates will help customers pay and go by simply swiping their credit card and providing them with a paper or electronic receipt for their purchase.” That technology was originally tested in lawn and garden centers.

It was reported that associates will carry Bluetooth printers and cellular devices to scan products, swipe the credit cards and print receipts. Customers will reportedly save time, as they won’t have to go inside the brick-and-mortar store to pay for their outdoor items. Customers can also choose to have receipts delivered electronically.

Mobile checkout is also finding growing roles in ticketing.

To help event organizers distribute tickets, online platforms are creating environments that work efficiently for buyers and sellers. “Our focus is all about enabling the best experience for both the event organizer and the attendee,” Ticketbud CEO Kayhan Ahmadi told PYMNTS in an interview. The Austin, Texas-based company provides software to organizers of large and small events.

This year, the company is looking to enhance the way customers interact with its platform through mobile devices. “We want to roll out an experience that really optimizes around mobile,” Ahmadi said. And, since every ticket buyer has to check out, Ahmadi chose that as a particular area of focus. (At the same time, Ticketbud noted in a press release that mobile is expected to reach 54 percent of eCommerce by 2021, per BigCommerce.)

As for the 7-Eleven push, “mobile checkout works on both Android and iOS devices and is available for most 7-Eleven merchandise that has a barcode,” the report said. “Some items, such as financial services and age-verified products, still require cashier assistance. All payment transactions can be made securely through linked debit card, credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.”

Look for more mobile checkout efforts before the year is up.