The Swiss supermarket Migros has announced that it will be opening a new fully automated shop in Switzerland. Likened to a giant vending machine, the new store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and feature over 800 different products.
The new store, called Teo, is a 50 square metre tube made of wood and other sustainable materials. Migros Ostschweiz confirmed that the small shop will stock around 800 different products on its shelves, which will be changed based on customer feedback and demand. While the idea is new for Switzerland, Teo vending machine shops are already up and running in German cities under the Migros-owned Tegut brand.
Unlike previous attempts by Migros to run a fully automated store - which came unstuck when authorities realised people still worked at the store as security on Sundays - the new shop will not need any workers at all (beyond delivery staff) and will instead be monitored by video cameras and sensors. However, as there are no employees on-site, Migros will be able to run Teo 24 hours and day, seven days a week.
Instead of relying on the "honours system" used in the majority of farm shops in Switzerland, the international company explained that customers will be able to enter the store by scanning a bank card, Cumulus QR code or the Twint banking app. Once the doors open, customers will be free to shop and pay for their items at self-service desks, as you would in a regular store.
The first demo shop is set to open in Bürglen, Canton Thurgau on October 11. However, Migros Ostschweiz confirmed that another Teo store will be opening in Winterthur, Canton Zurich, by the end of October.