SWITZERLAND. Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland has launched what it says is the world’s first automated, fully digital, duty free retail machine in partnership with Inflyter at Geneva Airport.
The partners said that the custom-designed, digital outlet will “generate incremental revenue and transform a high traffic airport zone into self-service commercial space”.
Travellers can order, pay and collect duty free items in under 60 seconds, offering them a quick, convenient way to shop when the Aelia Duty Free store is closed, and an alternative shopping method for travellers who prefer a fully digital and contactless purchase experience.
The automated retail solution features an interactive touch-screen menu of the bestselling duty free products, initially starting with tobacco. The digital unit can also cater for the sales of other duty free goods like fragrances, skincare, cosmetics and other duty paid goods (while the selling of alcohol is prohibited in Switzerland).
Travel and age verification checks are made using an integrated scanner for boarding passports and identity cards, and once payment is made, the relevant compartment doors automatically open and the customer can retrieve their items, and the associated customs documentation and receipts are issued.
The vending unit has been positioned in the arrivals lounge outside the Aelia Duty Free store in Geneva Airport to complement the opening hours of the shop and maximise the opportunity of final impulse purchases.
In addition to the large touchscreen on the front of the automated retail unit, there are two large sides screens that can be showcases for bestselling products. These also represent digital media opportunities for brands to further extend their visibility, reach and deliver integrated, marketing campaigns across channels in the airport and in-store.
Lagardère Travel Retail’s relationship with Inflyter already offers travellers at Geneva Airport the ability to shop duty free using the Inflyter app and collect in-store at the airport. More recently Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland has introduced a gate delivery scheme at the airport.
Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland CEO Pascal Le Droff said: “This new digital installation sees us launch our first fully automated, self-service sales channel which will optimise our operational costs while generating incremental revenue from what would be a non-viable commercial space at the airport. With international passenger numbers starting to pick up, we want to be at the forefront of digital transformation and actively explore how we can offer innovation that better services our existing duty free shoppers and reach new ones.”
Wassim Saadé, Founder and CEO of Inflyter, added: “It’s exciting to collaborate with a partner who shares our vision of wanting to offer new and convenient digital duty free shopping experiences that travelers expect, and can see how digital innovation will generate incremental revenue and uncover latent commercial opportunities that have yet to be realised. We are excited about how we can further support Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland to grow their digital duty free revenues.”
Geneva Airport Commercial Director Pierre Germain said: “We are extremely pleased to fully support the digital duty free initiatives being led by Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland and Inflyter, as they continue to introduce brand new, world-leading shopping and service experiences to our passengers. This innovative, fully digital, automated retail unit gives our arriving passengers another choice as to how, where and when they shop and allows us to assist our retail partners in securing new sales channels and revenue opportunities for their business.”
