Scan & go is a connected retail mechanism that allows customers to scan products with their smartphones while shopping and then pay directly via a mobile application, without going through the checkout.
Canonical definition: Scan & go is a mobile payment system in which the customer scans the products themselves with their smartphone and completes the transaction directly on their phone.
Simple definition
Scan & go allows you to scan products with your smartphone and pay directly without going through the checkout.
Key takeaway: Scan & Go definition
- The scan & go feature allows customers to scan products themselves.
- Payment is made directly on the smartphone.
- Going through the checkout becomes unnecessary.
Summary
Scan & Go definition
Scan & go is based on a simple idea: allowing customers to manage the scanning and payment process themselves during their shopping.
Thanks to a mobile app or a smartphone-connected system, each product is scanned when it is added to the basket. Payment is then made directly on the phone, allowing customers to leave the store without going through a traditional checkout.
Why does scan & go appear?
Scan & go has developed with the digitalization of shopping journeys and the desire of retailers to streamline the in-store experience.
Reducing queues
Consumers want to avoid checkout lines. Scan & go eliminates this step in the shopping process.
The development of mobile payment
Smartphones now allow secure payments to be made directly from a mobile application.
Consumer autonomy
Customers are increasingly accustomed to managing certain stages of their purchasing journey themselves.
How does scan & go work?
The purchasing journey in a scan & go device generally follows these steps:
- The customer enters the store with their smartphone.
- Each product is scanned at the moment it is selected.
- The products are added to the cart in the application.
- Payment is made directly on the smartphone.
- The customer leaves the store without going through the checkout.
Scan & go vs traditional payment
| Traditional payment | Scan & go |
|---|---|
| Scan products at checkout | Product scanning by the customer |
| Payment at the counter | Smartphone payment |
| Possible queues | No queue |
Scan & go vs scan-to-home
Scan & go and scan-to-home both use the smartphone to scan a product, but they correspond to two different mechanisms in connected retail.
| Scan-to-home | Scan & go |
|---|---|
| The product is discovered in a physical location | The product is already in the customer's cart |
| Scanning allows access to the product page | The scan allows the product to be registered for payment. |
| The order is placed on a smartphone | Payment is made via smartphone |
| The product is delivered to the customer | The customer leaves immediately with the product. |
In summary, scan-to-home allows you to order a product for later delivery , while scan & go allows you to pay for a product already present in store .
The advantages of scan & go
For the brands
- streamline the purchasing process
- reduce queues
- improve customer experience
For consumers
- save time
- pay quickly
- manage their purchases independently
Scan & Go related concepts
- Connected Retail
- Phygital retail
- Mobile payment
Frequently asked questions about scan & go
Does scan & go replace cash registers?
Scan & go does not always replace traditional checkouts, but it allows for a faster shopping experience for some customers.
Does scan & go only work with a smartphone?
Yes, most scan & go systems rely on a mobile app that allows you to scan products and pay directly.
Scan & Go related concepts
- Scan-to-Home : mobile ordering mechanism with delivery, to be distinguished from scan & go which allows you to pay for a product already present in store.
- Endless aisle : access to an extensive catalogue, whereas scan & go concerns in-store payment.
- Connected showroom : product exhibition space, different from a scan & go journey focused on immediate purchase.
About this article
This article is published in The Connected Retail Guide , the analysis blog of E-POP STORE , dedicated to new purchasing journeys and distribution models: connected retail, phygital retail, stockless retail and connected wholesale.
