Through its subsidiary Core Innovations, Motor Oil is introducing for the first time in Greece an innovative retail model: SmartShop, the country’s first fully automated physical store that operates without staff and is open 24 hours a day. The new concept combines the convenience and speed of online shopping with the immediate experience of a physical store, allowing customers to see, touch and select their products without queues, cashiers or time restrictions.
With a simple scan of their card, customers open the door and complete their shopping within minutes – an innovation that, according to company representatives, responds to consumers’ new needs for “easy, fast and simple” solutions. SmartShop has been operating as a pilot for about a month and a half, during which more than 150 transactions have already been completed, proving that the new model is immediately understood and accepted by the public.
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SmartShop by Motor Oil: How the automated store works
The pilot SmartShop at 150 Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue in Nea Smyrni is a next-generation store that, according to Lefteris Giannakoudakis, general manager of Core Innovations, completely transforms the shopping experience. The store operates with staff presence until 23:00, while from 23:00 to 07:00 it switches to “autopilot mode,” transforming the space into a fully autonomous mini market where all processes are digital.
Customer entry is through a special device at the entrance, which functions like a “large POS system.” The customer scans their credit or debit card, enters their email and confirms they are over 18 years old, completing the identification process within seconds. This unlocks the door and allows entry to the store without any human intervention. Additionally, a 3-euro pre-authorization is made, which is either automatically returned to the card if no purchases are made, or incorporated into the final amount.
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