What is “hands-free shopping”?
“Hands-free shopping” is a form of shopping that allows customers to make purchases without having to use their hands, usually using technologies such as facial recognition, voice recognition or fingerprint recognition. Hands-free shopping may also include the ability to pay for items without using a credit card or cash and to scan items and then add them to a shopping cart using a mobile device via example. The main goal of “hands-free shopping” is to make the purchasing experience faster and more convenient for the customer.
How to set up a “hands-free shopping” system?
Determine requirements
In order to implement an efficient hands-free shopping system, it is necessary to first determine the system requirements based on the needs of the company and customers. By determining the requirements, a company provides answers as to the products that will be sold, the payment methods that will be offered, etc.
Choose a platform or software
Once the requirements have been established, it is necessary to determine the platform or software that will be used to manage the system. Today, there are many e-commerce software programs that allow you to set up a “hands-free shopping” system. The most popular software being Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce.
Configure and customise
Despite the practicality of current platforms or software, they must be configured and personalised in order to fully meet the needs of the business. For this, many options are available, such as the possibility of integrating a stock management system, for example.
Test operation
When the system is configured and customized according to the needs of the company, it must be tested to ensure that it functions properly and can meet all customer needs.
Promote and communicate
In order to make this “hands-free shopping” system known, promotional and communication campaigns are necessary to encourage customers to test it.
What are the advantages of hands-free shopping?
Comfort
“Hands-free shopping” allows customers to make purchases without having to carry them.
Time
“Hands-free shopping” allows customers to make purchases more quickly because they do not have to wait to pay.
Hygiene
“Hands-free shopping” helps to reduce the spread of bacteria because this system avoids contact with items as much as possible. This is an important element for certain customers, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Improved purchasing experience
Hands-free shopping allows customers to focus on the items they want to purchase and not how they will wear the items while shopping.
Space saving
“Hands-free shopping” allows certain brands to save space, particularly by reducing the size of certain shelves.
Track purchases
“Hands-free shopping” allows the company to track the movements and actions of customers in the store through the use of advanced technologies such as facial recognition, for example.