7-Eleven has opened a cashierless store at its corporate headquarters in Texas as a test before launching to a "wider audience."
The store is for 7-Eleven employees only who use an app to sign up, check in at the store, enter the store, shop and exit. The 700-square-foot store carries 7-Eleven's most popular products, including beverages, snacks, food, groceries, over-the-counter drugs and non-food items.
"Ultimately, our goal is to exceed consumers' expectations for faster, easier transactions and a seamless shopping experience," said Mani Suri, 7-Eleven senior vice president and chief information officer. "Introducing new store technology to 7-Eleven employees first has proven to be a very productive way to test and learn before launching to a wider audience.
"They are honest and candid with their feedback, which enables us to learn and quickly make adjustments to improve the experience. This in-house, custom built technology by 7-Eleven engineers is designed for our current and future customers. We continue to innovate, and coupling fresh, innovative, healthy food options with a frictionless shopping experience could be a game-changer."
It is unknown how soon this concept will be presented to the general public.
7-Eleven has previous tested a smartphone app at some of its stores that allow customers to use their mobile phone to scan and pay for products. These stores, however, still have a traditional cashier as an option for customers.