German discounter Aldi Süd has announced that it has introduced a digital system for access control in almost half of its 1,930 outlets to regulate the number of customers in a store in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The sensor-based system provides an account of the number of customers in a store in real-time, allowing the retailer to adhere to government regulations regarding the maximum number of customers in an outlet at a given time.
Malte Kuhn, the head of project management at Aldi Süd Regionalgesellschaft Aichtal, said, “The corona pandemic poses great challenges for us as retailers. The protection and security of our customers and employees are our top priority.
“The access system ensures that the maximum utilisation levels in our branches are not exceeded.”
The System
The system, developed by Stuttgart-based start-up company - sensalytics, uses sensors in the entrance and exit of stores to count the number of customers entering and leaving a store.
It provides real-time information about the number of customers to store employees via an app, SMS, or a call.
The branches have also been equipped with a traffic light system or screen display to inform customers about an outlet’s capacity utilisation.
The digital customer count is GDPR-compliant and can be used without additional burdens for the employees in the branches, Aldi added.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Jamie Lane. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
