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The equipment Shopping cart
In modern retail, shopping carts are an indispensable part of the shopping experience.
They offer convenience to customers and make it easier to transport goods around the store and to the vehicle.
However, it is a constant challenge for retailers to manage these shopping carts and ensure that they are available in sufficient numbers at all times.
Shopping carts are a considerable investment.
A single trolley can cost between 100 and 400 euros, depending on the equipment and quality.
For a medium-sized supermarket with around 200 trolleys, this corresponds to an investment in operating resources of up to 80,000 euros.
Lost or stolen trolleys are therefore not only a logistical problem, but also a financial loss.
In addition, the lack of sufficient available trolleys can negatively impact the customer shopping experience, potentially leading to lost sales.
Therefore, the efficient management and tracking of shopping carts is a crucial factor for the smooth operation and economic success of a retail business.
Challenges with the management of shopping carts
Managing shopping carts presents numerous challenges, especially when it comes to monitoring the location of carts both inside and outside the retail site.
Here are some of the biggest challenges:
Loss and theft
Shopping carts are often stolen or left outside the store.
Research has shown that the annual loss from stolen shopping carts can be up to €10,000 per site for some large retailers.
This not only represents a financial loss, but also requires additional expenditure to replace the trolleys.
In Vienna alone, over 11,000 Rewe shopping carts were recovered by the MA48 sweep force in 2016 (read more here). In Germany, it is estimated that around 100,000 shopping carts are stolen every year . In 2017, 520,000 shopping trolleys were returned to UK supermarkets, which equates to an average of 1,400 per day. However, according to industry estimates, the actual number of abandoned shopping trolleys is closer to one million per year. This problem costs UK businesses £35 million a year, or more than £95,000 a day! Despite these figures, 40% of UK shoppers do not see a serious need for action in relation to shopping trolley theft.
Apart from the direct damage, retailers in some countries and regions face municipal fines for the return and storage of shopping carts.
Maintenance and repairs
Shopping carts are in constant use and therefore susceptible to wear and damage.
Timely maintenance and repair is crucial to ensure trolleys are ready for use at all times.
Without an effective system to monitor the use and condition of the trolleys, these tasks can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Location tracking and availability
One of the biggest challenges is to ensure that shopping carts are always available where they are needed.
This applies to the inside of the store as well as the parking lots and surrounding areas.
Without a reliable tracking system, it is difficult to know how many trolleys are in certain locations and whether there are enough trolleys available for customers.
The solution using Sigfox
Based on Sigfox technology, Heliot Europe, in close cooperation with its partners, offers an innovative solution to overcome the aforementioned challenges in managing and tracking shopping carts. Sigfox is a global network for the Internet of Things (IoT) that has been specially developed for the cost-effective and energy-efficient transmission of small amounts of data. This makes it ideal for applications such as shopping cart tracking.
Advantages of the Sigfox solution
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Cost efficiency: Sigfox-based trackers are cost-effective and require minimal investment compared to other tracking technologies.
This is particularly advantageous for retailers who need to track a large number of carts. -
Energy efficiency: Sigfox trackers have a long battery life, often several years, without the need to change batteries.
This significantly reduces maintenance costs. -
Comprehensive coverage: Sigfox offers almost worldwide coverage, making it possible to track shopping carts both indoors and outdoors.
This is particularly useful for large retail chains with many locations. -
Easy integration: The Sigfox solution can be easily integrated into existing systems and offers a user-friendly platform for monitoring and managing shopping carts.
How a solution with Sigfox works
Sigfox trackers are attached to the shopping carts or even fully integrated and regularly send location data to the Sigfox network. This data can be accessed in real time via a web-based platform that provides the retailer with a complete overview of the location and status of the trolleys.
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Indoor tracking: Within the store, the Sigfox solution enables precise tracking of the trolleys. This helps to avoid bottlenecks and ensure that the scales are available where they are needed most.
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Outdoor tracking: In outdoor areas, for example in parking lots or around the store, the Sigfox solution can help to quickly locate and return lost or stolen vehicles.
Optionally, Sigfox trackers with OG-Wan support can also be used. In addition to Sigfox, these also use other networks such as Helium for data transmission.
Sigfox is ideal for shopping cart tracking
Thanks to its low cost and comprehensive network coverage, which Heliot Europe will extend and secure as required, Sigfox is ideal for this use case. This wide coverage enables reliable tracking both indoors and outdoors, which is crucial for effective management.
Success stories
By using the Sigfox solution, a leading European retailer was able to reduce the loss rate of its shopping carts by 30% and at the same time cut the cost of replacement trolleys by 20%.
In addition, the availability of trolleys for customers improved significantly, resulting in a better shopping experience and increased sales.
Real results
One retailer was able to reduce the number of lost shopping carts from 55 to 22 within six months.
This showed that 33% of the lost trolleys were collected and recycled by the city.
Thanks to Sigfox telematics, these losses were managed more efficiently.
More information about this use case can be found here.
Another example shows that many carts were taken to nearby parking lots or other stores before entering homes or storage facilities.
With the Sigfox solution, targeted notifications could be set up when trolleys left the defined area around the store, which significantly improved the control and return of the trolleys.
IoT-enabled asset tracking solution
Heliot Europe and its partners offer an IoT-enabled asset tracking solution connected to the Sigfox 0G network, providing real-time visibility of the location of all shopping carts. This enables retailers to track and manage their shopping cart fleet from virtually anywhere. With a positive impact on resource utilization and loss prevention!
Simple installation
The battery-powered trackers can be installed on the vehicle in just a few minutes and are ready to transmit immediately thanks to Sigfox. The devices are usually small enough to be integrated into modified handles, which means they can be completely concealed and can function for up to 2 years without further intervention despite being battery-operated. Depending on the exact requirements, the trackers use Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS to determine their location – either alone or in combination.
Your benefit.
The management of shopping carts presents retailers with significant challenges.
The loss and inadequate availability of trolleys can have a significant financial and operational impact.
The Sigfox solution provides an effective and cost-efficient technology that addresses these challenges and helps retailers to manage and track their trolleys efficiently.
By combining indoor and outdoor tracking, Sigfox provides a comprehensive solution that optimizes operations and increases customer satisfaction.
Inventory management
Through detailed data management, retailers can see which trolleys are present at which location and understand their usage and service history. This results in a real-time overview of the location and condition of the shopping carts.
Loss prevention
Retailers can easily and quickly determine which carts are off-site and find the shortest route for immediate retrieval.
Cost reduction
Reduction in retrieval, acquisition and maintenance costs, increased stocks and an improved customer experience.
Long running time
trackers have a long battery life of at least 18 months, which further reduces maintenance costs.
Simple installation
No cabling, software installation or special approvals are required, which simplifies implementation.
Inconspicuousness
The use of the public Sigfox network enables shopping carts to be tracked both indoors and outdoors - even far outside the area.
