# Rural Unstaffed Supermarkets Lifvs Brings Automated Supermarkets Where They're Needed Most By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2020-09-09 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unstaffed-supermarket References: [nfcw](https://www.nfcw.com/2020/09/08/367784/lifvs-brings-unmanned-supermarkets-to-rural-communities/) & [lifvs](https://lifvs.com/) [Fully autonomous stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/physical-ai) are beginning to appear in some of the world's busiest cities and Swedish retail start-up Lifvs is now bringing automated, [unmanned grocery stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aisle-24-expansion) to rural parts of Sweden. At a time when conventional stores and supermarkets have shuttered their doors, people who live in remote areas can now use their phones to access the goods at these 24-hour [staffless stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microstore). With the company's app downloaded and a payment card linked, customers can gain entry to the store, choose what they want to buy, scan the barcodes on the items and pay with the app. Thanks to the whole system, cost savings are passed onto shoppers, who also benefit from getting to avoid lines. The stores are housed in containers that can be grouped and easily replenished as needed. Image Credit: Lifvs ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.5/10 - Popularity: 96% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Rural Unstaffed Supermarkets:** Automated, unstaffed grocery stores are being introduced in remote areas with the use of smartphone apps and cost savings are being passed on to shoppers. - **Autonomous Stores:** Fully autonomous stores have the potential to expand beyond cities into remote areas where they're needed most. - **Mobile Payment and Scanning:** The ability to pay with the app and scan barcodes on items can streamline the shopping experience and eliminate the need for additional personnel in stores. ### Where This Applies - **Retail:** Traditional retailers have an opportunity to expand into remote areas with autonomous stores that eliminate the need for staffing and potentially reduce costs for consumers. - **Technology:** The development and implementation of mobile payment and scanning technology in autonomous stores has the potential to disrupt both the retail and finance industries. - **Logistics:** The use of containers to house and easily replenish autonomous stores presents opportunities for logistics companies who can streamline operations and reduce costs through automation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Employee-Free Smart Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teo-smart-stores.md) - [AI-Powered Supermarkets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-grocery-store.md) - [AI-Based Convenience Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-convenience-store.md) - [Cashier-Free Grocery Chains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aisle-24.md) - [RFID-Enabled Retail Cabinets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfly-store.md) - [24-Hour AI-Powered Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rewe-to-go-1.md) - [Hybrid Autonomous Grocery Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nourish-bloom-market.md) - [AI-Driven Convenience Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-convenience-stores.md) - [Record-Breaking Autonomous Supermarkets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-supermarket.md)