Magazin:e Contact-avoiding shoppers

Edit Kerekesné Nagy
managing director
WANZL Magyarország

Wanzl is the Hungarian distributor of Norwegian Tomra reverse vending machines. Typically shoppers come across these before they enter the trading area of a grocery store. Most of these bottle return machines are touchscreen-operated. Tomra models are also capable of touchfree operation.

We learned from Edit Kerekesné Nagy, managing director of WANZL Magyarország Kft. that the touchfree trend is going to remain in the post-pandemic period too, as screens can be virus carriers just like buttons or other surfaces.

Transparent protective walls

Attila Kolonics
managing director
Artmatch

In the pandemic situation demand increased for the hygienic storage of bakery items – for store furniture that is closed but transparent. Wanzl’s modular Bakeoff system provides quick, aesthetic and hygienic access to baked goods.

Many stores mounted transparent plexiglass walls at the deli counter and the checkout, to protect from the virus. Attila Kolonics, managing director of Artmatch told our magazine that although originally they are one of the region’s biggest POS and in-store tool makers, during the pandemic they mounted such protective walls at more than 1,500 cash registers. They also designed and manufactured disinfecting stations and a disposable glove dispenser – in just 2 weeks they came up with a new product portfolio.

Sustainable cooling and refrigeration

László Körmöczi
managing director
Carrier Hungary,
Adriatica

The pandemic also entailed a surge in demand for chilled and frozen products. Carrier is the global market leader in developing and distributing retail cooling and refrigeration systems. They are dedicated to utilising natural refrigerants (primarily CO2) that cause no harm to the ozone layer.

László Körmöczi, Carrier’s managing director for Hungary and the Adriatic region told our magazine: their cooling and refrigeration systems are efficient, energy-saving, robust, ergonomic, improve the in-store shopping experience and utilise eco-friendly technology. The future is more transparent and stylish refrigerators, which save energy and can be maintained remotely.

Constant development work

Adrienn Pólus
sales and marketing director
Thermotechnika-Crown

Thermotechnika-Crown has been manufacturing professional cooling and refrigeration technology equipment for the HoReCa sector for 40 years. Energy-saving and eco-friendly operation has always been a priority in developing these.

Adrienn Pólus, sales and marketing director of Thermotechnika-Crown Cool Kft. spoke to us about their latest innovations, TC Sandi automatic hand sanitiser dispenser and TC Clair air cleaner. Five years ago they teamed up with a software company to develop an ‘unattended retail system’ type refrigerator. Today TC Innovendi is already used in the French, British and Israeli markets.

Personalised integrated solutions

Dr. Fruzsina Szilvia Biró
managing director
Origo-Software

Origo-Software Kft. develops and distributes barcode technology, computer-based cash registers and the related sales systems.

According to Fruzsina Szilvia Biró, managing director of Origo-Software Kft., it takes just 1-2 weeks to install their system, which is tailored to the needs of the given partner. The company combines the latest technologies with the many functions of their already existing systems. Today, when automation speeds up the payment process, the Origo-Software system can be used for automatic goods reception, based on an electronic delivery note or invoice. In the company’s integrated system data only need to be registered once.

Faster pricing and payment

Dávid Szabó
CEO
Szintézis

Due to social distancing, the number of self-checkouts is on the rise. These solutions can also contribute to solving the workforce problem, as one cashier is enough for 4-5 cash registers.

Demand has also increased for the Cashkeeper payment station, which can be used without the cashier having to touch the money.

Online sales require much faster pricing, communication and reactions, and these are very difficult to do with paper shelf labels. No wonder that demand surged for PRICER electronic shelf labels; these can also communicate with the retailer’s online shop – explained Dávid Szabó, owner and managing director of Szintézis.

The age of modernisation

István Bessenyei
owner-MD
Laurel Cégcsoport

Laurel Group has done a lot for making self-checkouts accessible to all types of stores. The company’s self-service cash registers are already in use in shops where there are just 2-3 checkouts.

According to István Bessenyei, owner and managing director of Laurel Group, since the pandemic has made shoppers prefer contactless shopping and at the same time they have got used to using the latest technological solutions, soon unmanned stores will appear in Hungary too. He added that Laurel will continue to play a role in the modernisation of Hungary’s retail landscape.

Terminals and vending machines

András Bakonyi
sales director
Ingenico Hungary

From January 2021 all online cash register using retailers are obliged to make electronic payment possible to customers. The most popular and comfortable form of this is bank card payment – or payment by using any other NFC chip device through a POS terminal.

András Bakonyi, sales director of market leader Ingenico in Hungary said: the pandemic sharply increased the demand for vending machines with contactless payment technology. Consumers like to buy a cup of coffee, food or parking tickets using solutions such as Ingenico SELF. //

SuperShop – the shopper is in focus

Norbert Hovanyecz  
managing director
SuperShop

Norbert Hovanyecz, managing director of SuperShop Kft. told our magazine that Hungary’s biggest multi-company loyalty programme did its best to provide shoppers with all the information they need during the pandemic too. The focus shifted to online communication and new innovations were introduced, such as the digital loyalty card: the MySPAR app can be used for distributing fliers and coupons and for collecting loyalty points, plus there is also a virtual SuperShop QR code card in the app. Several hundred thousand consumers download the virtual loyalty card. SuperShop replaced in-store hostesses with the humanoid robot SuperPepper, which informs shoppers about the latest promotions. //

Hungarian design studio saves lives and wins prize with AI system

Hungarian design studio Flying Objects won the iF design award with its AX System control system, which can be used to speed up and increase the safety of logistics operations. A jury of 98 experts selected AX System from 9,500 competition entries. The system uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology and has been created based on the idea of Safety Logistics Kft. It makes transportation inside warehouses safer and faster, reducing the number of forklift truck accidents. //