Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., parent company of the Circle K convenience store chain, will purchase more than 10,000 touchless self-checkout systems, with plans to deploy them in more than 7,000 Circle K and Couche-Tard stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe over the next three years.
The Mashgin system, branded as “Smart Checkout,” relies on AI-powered technology that can improve customer checkout time up to 400%. Circle K intends to use the self-checkout technology to enhance the customer experience, shorten lines and allow associates to prioritize assisting customers. The system can integrate in-store and fuel purchases and can be aligned with loyalty programs such as Sip & Save.
When using Smart Checkout, customers place items on the Touchless Checkout System’s pad, with a camera tallying up the products in under one second, according to the company. The entire checkout process can be completed in 10 seconds.
“We’re committed to investing in and scaling technology that sets a new standard for convenience with our customers and advances our mission to make our customers’ lives a little easier every day,” said Magnus Tägtström, VP of Global Innovation at Couche-Tard in a statement. “We look forward to introducing this new platform to stores across our network.”
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Couche-Tard first deployed the Mashgin technology in 2020 across nearly 500 Circle K locations in the U.S. and Sweden and at the Couche-Tard retail innovation lab store at Montreal’s McGill University.
