Report • 13.12.2021

Self-driving kiosk: wave, buy, snack

REWE and Vodafone put first self-driving kiosk on the road

first self-driving kiosk from REWE and Vodafone in front of an old brick...
Source: REWE digital/ Vodafone Deutschland

A kiosk on four wheels - this may not be new and somehow it is, because: The snacks are on the road without a driver*. The innovation unit REWE digital of the food retailer REWE makes common cause with the telecommunications company Vodafone and brings Europe's first self-driving "REWE Snack Mobil" on the streets of Cologne. We have summarized the facts:

All beginnings are small: At least that was the case with the route of the "Snack Mobil". For several test weeks, it ran along the Carlswerk in Cologne-Mülheim. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the vehicle made its rounds non-stop at a walking speed of 6 kph. During this time, the route was continuously extended and the kiosk made fixed stops.

A woman stands in front of the self-driving kiosk and looks at the products...
Source: Sreenshot Youtube/REWE digital/ Vodafone Deutschland

SIM card: not for making phone calls, but for navigating

Meanwhile, the vehicle was kept on course by cameras, sensors and a Vodafone SIM card. This is made possible by the latest mobile communications technology, which acts as a virtual rail network, so to speak. The built-in SIM card and an external antenna provide the necessary connection and transmit location data via the provider's LTE and 5G network, which is compared in real time with the developed route plan

A smartphone held in the hand on which a route is displayed how long the...
Source: Sreenshot Youtube/REWE digital/ Vodafone Deutschland
A person holds a smartphone to the self-driving kiosk to pay...
Source: Sreenshot Youtube/REWE digital/ Vodafone Deutschland

The employees of Carlswerk were the chosen testers. If someone crossed the mobile's path, the sensors and cameras mentioned recognized this and the kiosk stopped. A wave was enough to stop the mobile and then choose something from the 32 snacks such as crackers, chocolate or muesli bars and drinks. If the mobile wasn't in sight for a snack, it could be tracked via app.

No cash, no problem

The inner workings of the small vehicle are similar to those of the snack dispensers we are already familiar with. Customers can select their goods via a touch display, which then folds out of the shelf, lands in a collection container and can be removed. Anyone who now thinks he or she has to push the appropriate change through slots is mistaken. Payment is not made with coins or bills, but in a modern, contactless way via card or smartphone.

After more than 200 test kilometers, it's now time to go live: Off to live operation. The beginning of an autonomous, but not lonely journey, because from now on all passers-by of the Carlswerk can pay a visit to the "REWE Snack Mobil" and buy themselves a snack. It is not yet clear where exactly the journey of the mobile will end: it has only just begun. Perhaps more mobiles will be added in the future.

Author: Katja Laska

related articles:

popular articles:

Thumbnail-Photo: MPREIS Transforms Operations with Zebra Workcloud Task Management™...
06.11.2023   #customer experience #software developement

MPREIS Transforms Operations with Zebra Workcloud Task Management™ Software Solution

Austrian food retailer to streamline communication in around 300 stores to improve staff engagement, inventory optimisation, and customer satisfaction

MPREIS has around 300 Austrian stores in regions across Tyrol...

Thumbnail-Photo: New German vending partner for ITL
30.11.2023   #Tech in Retail #cash management

New German vending partner for ITL

Innovative Technology (ITL) have recently announced Bernd Boddart as their latest trading partner

Bernd Boddart will be supplying their cash validation and biometric age verification solutions to the German vending market. Bernd Boddart, based in Mönchengladbach, Germany, have 30 years of experience in the field of coffee machines, table ...

Thumbnail-Photo: SES-imagotag becomes VusionGroup
29.01.2024   #software applications #artificial intelligence

SES-imagotag becomes VusionGroup

A new identity highlighting the broader portfolio of innovative solutions
developed by the Group to solve the major challenges of physical commerce

SES-imagotag (Euronext: SESL, FR0010282822), the global leader in digital solutions for physical commerce, today announced that it has changed its name to VusionGroup. This new name embodies the various product lines and solutions that have enhanced ...

Thumbnail-Photo: The global state of autonomous stores
18.12.2023   #Tech in Retail #self-checkout systems

The global state of autonomous stores

The stores are located in various retail segments such as food retail, fashion, electronics, convenience stores and fast food.

In a highly competitive global retail landscape, autonomous stores are an emerging force that addresses changing consumer behaviors, reduces operational costs, improves profitability, and powers revenue growth strategies. Advancements in autonomous ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Unified Commerce Platform in focus
24.10.2023   #omnichannel #software developement

Unified Commerce Platform in focus

Handover at REMIRA: Dirk Bingler supersedes Stephan Unser as CEO

REMIRA is setting the course for future development of the company: On November 1, Dirk Bingler (48) will become the new CEO of the supply chain and omnichannel software expert headquartered in Dortmund. The previous CEO Stephan Unser (62) moves to ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Ask the Bot: generative AI in retail
02.01.2024   #Tech in Retail #food retail

Ask the Bot: generative AI in retail

Revolution in retail: the era of generative AI and AI bots

They are able to analyse data, write product descriptions, answer shoppers’ questions or write codes...

Thumbnail-Photo: Out of Stock in Retail and innovative solutions to avoid them...
07.11.2023   #brick and mortar retail #customer satisfaction

Out of Stock in Retail and innovative solutions to avoid them

Due to various events, the availability of goods in retail will be increasingly restricted from 2022, with the result that customers cannot find in food retail the products they wish to buy, because those products are sold out, are temporarily ...

Thumbnail-Photo: Payment as a success factor: more than just paying...
15.01.2024   #Tech in Retail #payment systems

Payment as a success factor: more than just paying

Flashback to 1994: databases and ERP systems, first commercial websites, mobile phones with colour displays, CD-ROMs, Java as a programming language ...

Thumbnail-Photo: EuroCIS 2024 - technology special
11.12.2023   #online trading #e-commerce

EuroCIS 2024 - technology special

The latest technology solutions and trends for you and the retail sector

At EuroCIS 2022 from February 27 to 29, 2024, the Leading Trade Fair for Retail Technology, we will be looking at all the important and current topics relating to technology in retail: AI and Machine Learning, Payment, Connected Retail, Seamless Store and Smart Energy Management and many more.

Thumbnail-Photo: Trigo and Netto Announce Autonomous Supermarket with Real-Time Receipt...
24.01.2024   #Tech in Retail #artificial intelligence

Trigo and Netto Announce Autonomous Supermarket with Real-Time Receipt Capability.

‘Final step’ in frictionless shopping drives trust by enabling consumers to view their receipts BEFORE leaving the store
Full size 800m2 grocery supermarket powered by computer vision AI is Europe’s largest retrofitted frictionless store

Trigo, a leading provider of AI computer vision technology that transforms traditional brick-and-mortar retail outlets into digital smart stores, and discount supermarket chain Netto Marken-Discount (also known as Netto), have partnered to launch ...

Supplier

VusionGroup SA
VusionGroup SA
55 place Nelson Mandela
90000 Nanterre
Captana GmbH
Captana GmbH
Bundesstraße 16
77955 Ettenheim
Innovative Technology Ltd.
Innovative Technology Ltd.
Innovative Business Park
OL1 4EQ Oldham
REMIRA Group GmbH
REMIRA Group GmbH
Phoenixplatz 2
44263 Dortmund
Zebra Technologies Germany GmbH
Zebra Technologies Germany GmbH
Ernst-Dietrich-Platz 2
40882 Ratingen