From February 23, 2021, visitors to the Renningen station of the future will be able to discover a new and innovative offering. Deutsche Bahn is opening the first digital grocery store together with EDEKA Südwest. Here, customers can pre-order purchases using an app and make them directly at the vending machine around the clock. Behind the touchscreens in the store, robots pack up the purchases and make them available for pickup.
Shopping around the clock at the station of the future (Source: Deutsche Bahn Group)
The project is being realized at the Zukunftsbahnhof in Renningen, Baden-Württemberg, together with the startup Smack, which has already set up some automated sales facilities in the past. A press release from Deutsche Bahn states:
“Our travelers have asked for better shopping facilities. I am pleased that we are able to fulfill their wish with the digital grocery store at the Renningen station of the future and at the same time test a concept that is unique in Germany at a station – a real benefit for our customers and residents.” – Tobias Boppré, Head of Sales at DB Station&Service Südwesten
In total, the E 24/7 robot store is to offer around 800 products, offering everything from food to drugstore goods. The store at the station of the future is intended to be just the prototype for a whole series of other stores that will enable flexible and time-independent shopping. What do you think about such a concept? Would you visit a robot supermarket at your station?
Post picture: Deutsche Bahn
