Wheelys is a start-up that first came into consumer consciousness with a mobile coffee cart, but it is now launching its first brick-and-mortar shop, which is set to be a model for the convenience store of the future.
The 'Wheelys 247' store in Shanghai, China will be a completely unmanned 24-hour convenience store that allows consumers to make purchases via their mobile devices using the Wheelys 247 app, completely eliminating the traditional checkout process. Use of the app is also what grants a shopper access to the store, which is also a part of its system to deter theft.
This new convenience store is joining the ranks of many restaurants and cafes that are now experimenting with operations that do not involve staff. Other notable examples include Eatsa and Renrenxiang, which rely on the use of smartphones for food-ordering, as well as Cafe-X and Zume Pizza, both of which use robots to prepare food and beverages.
What's Driving This Trend
- Staff-less Stores
- Opportunity to create completely unmanned stores that allow consumers to make purchases through mobile devices, eliminating the traditional checkout process.
- Mobile App Ordering
- Opportunity to implement mobile app ordering for brick-and-mortar stores that provide access to the store and deter theft.
- Robot Food Preparation
- Opportunity to use robots for food and beverage preparation in restaurants and cafes.
Who This Affects Most
- Retail
- Opportunity for retail stores, particularly convenience stores, to implement unmanned stores with mobile app ordering for a more efficient shopping experience.
- Food and Beverage
- Opportunity for restaurants and cafes to implement mobile app ordering and use robots for food and beverage preparation to create a fresh and unique experience for their customers.
- Technology
- Opportunity to innovate and improve technology for mobile app ordering and unmanned stores with improved security measures to increase convenience for customers.
