7-Eleven Offering Customers a Way to Skip the Checkout Line

IRVING, Texas — 7-Eleven Inc. is piloting mobile self-checkout at 14 convenience stores in the Dallas area.

The Scan & Pay platform allows customers to skip the checkout line and pay for items using the 7-Eleven app. The frictionless shopping experience is integrated into the 7Rewards loyalty program, allowing customers to automatically earn 7Rewards points upon purchase, redeem points to purchase applicable products, as well as receive all in-store promotions.

According to the retailer, 7-Eleven is the first convenience store chain to develop proprietary technology for a full frictionless payment experience. The company plans to expand the service to additional cities in 2019.

7-Eleven first tested mobile self-checkout at its Store Support Center, where employees tried the feature prior to this multi-store launch.

"Our customers are on the go, looking for faster, more convenient ways to shop more than ever before. 7-Eleven continues to redefine convenience by providing frictionless experiences for our customers with Scan & Pay. Our customers can now use their smartphone to skip the line, every time," said Gurmeet Singh, chief digital officer and chief information officer at 7-Eleven.

How it Works

To use Scan & Pay, customers need to update the latest version of the retailer's mobile app and register with the 7Rewards loyalty program. Once inside the store, customers open the app and tap "Start Scannin" at the bottom of the home page.

From there:

• Customers must be within the geo-fenced area in or around one of the 14 pilot stores for the shopping feature to appear.
• As they shop, customers scan items with a bar code using the guides on their phone screen. Items are added to their basket, along with any discounts or promotional pricing.
• Customers pay for purchases using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a traditional debit or credit card. Scan & Pay stations with clear shopping bags are in the store.
• Once they pay for their purchases, customers scan the QR code on the final confirmation screen at the Scan & Pay confirmation station. 

"We want every interaction with 7-Eleven to be valuable and delightful and fast," Singh said. "Customers can now take control of their shopping experience and earn loyalty points at the same time. Customers are given a variety of options when they walk into a 7-Eleven store, from product assortment and customization all the way to payment methods. We are taking the in-store retail experience to the next level with a series of innovations. Scan & Pay is one of them."

Scan & Pay works with Android and iOS devices and is available for all merchandise except items that require cashier assistance, including hot foods, financial services and age-verified products.

The mobile self-checkout platform is the latest in a series of digital technology enhancements 7-Eleven has made available to consumers. Others include offering various mobile payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay; expanding the 7Rewards customer loyalty program to a wider range of eligible purchases; presenting augmented reality experiences; offering in-store package pickup via the 1,100 Amazon Lockers located at participating 7-Eleven stores; and launching the 7NOW proprietary delivery smartphone app in select markets.

Irving-based 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 67,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America.