First checkout-free Al Meera Smart store in Qatar

Al Meera Consumer Goods Company has successfully conducted the final test run of its first ‘Al Meera Smart’, a fully autonomous checkout-free store, at Aspire Park.

The first Al Meera Smart store is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology which eventually be applied in other locations within Al Meera’s growing network in Qatar.

The smart store is another addition to the existing checkout-free lines in many Al Meera branches across the country. It also follows the opening and operation of a self-service branch - a mini-market - in the Qatar Energy tower in Al Dafna, West Bay.

The store is ready to offer services to customers based on a quick and self-service method, providing snacks, beverages, grab-and-go meals, and other basic goods supported by a cashier-less process.

The frictionless smart store operates through a collection of cameras and sensors that track customers from point of entry until they leave, speeding up the purchasing process to make shopping transactions faster, simpler, less stressful and more enjoyable for consumers by just tapping their card, shop and exit.

Saving customers the need to queue for payment after picking their items, shoppers can create a virtual shopping cart, put the items in their pocket, bag, purse or simply carry them, and the software will directly charge the cost of the purchased items from the customers’ credit card as soon as they leave the shop.