IRVING, Texas — 7-Eleven Inc. is offering customers in Utah a contactless way to shop in its stores. Accessible through the 7-Eleven app, Mobile Checkout enables customers to skip the checkout line by shopping and paying for items using their mobile phones.
7-Eleven said it is using its digital technology to provide a safer shopping environment for Americans adapting to a new way of life. "Now more than ever, customers are looking for an even greater level of convenience, one that includes minimizing contact with others," said 7-Eleven Chief Digital Officer Tarang Sethia. "We want to meet that need during this uncertain time, and Mobile Checkout is one of the innovative ways we can do that."
Customers can shop, scan and pay with their smartphones, facilitating social distancing and minimizing time in stores. The frictionless shopping experience is integrated with the company's national 7Rewards loyalty program where members can earn and redeem points on product purchases and receive coupons and promotions.
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Using Mobile Checkout through the 7-Eleven app involves these steps:
- Update to the latest version of the app or download it from the App Store or Google Play.
- Register for or log into the 7Rewards loyalty program.
- Open the app in a participating store and tap "Start Scanning" on the home page.
- Scan the barcode on the desired products to add it to your basket. Discounts and promotions are applied automatically.
- Pay for purchases using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a debit or credit card in the app, which customers can setup ahead of time.
- Confirm purchase by scanning the QR code on confirmation screen once the payment is authorized.
Mobile Checkout works on both Android and iOS devices and is available for most 7-Eleven merchandise that has a bar code. Some items still require store associate assistance, such as hot foods, financial services and age-verified products (alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets).
In other responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 7-Eleven has enhanced its standards and procedures for hygiene, handwashing, sanitation, food handling and preparation in stores, including increased frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces. The company is encouraging its corporate store associates to wear masks and gloves when serving customers and asking independent franchise owners to do the same in their stores. Customers now have access to disposable gloves, tissues and sanitizer stations while shopping in stores. As an extra precaution to help reinforce physical distancing and safer transactions, 7-Eleven has installed sneeze guards and visual floor markers at the front sales counter.
Mobile Checkout, already available in participating Dallas, Manhattan and Long Island stores, is just one of the digital technology enhancements 7-Eleven has made available to consumers. Customers who can't make it to the store can get their essentials delivered straight to their home via the 7Now delivery app which can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play. Within 7Now, customers can opt in for contact-free deliveries.
- 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP's 2020 Top 202 ranking of c-store chains by number of retail outlets.
Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 70,000 c-stores in 17 countries, including more than 9,300 in the United States.
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