Zabka, a Polish chain of convenience stores, has teamed up with checkout-free retail software company AiFi to eventually bring cashierless shopping to some of its more than 5,400 stores. Initially, the collaboration will see prototype store opened to customers.

The prototype store, which is currently in development, will be used to learn more about how AiFi’s technology can be utilised and then, using this knowledge, will be implemented on a wider scale around Poland. The concept will be delivered almost ready-to-connect and be able to operate all day, every day, without any cashiers.

Zabka is also looking to expand its modular store format using AiFi’s NanoStore technology. Previously, these stores have only been located seasonally at places such as seaside resorts.

“The solutions we create are designed to adapt us to customer expectations by offering them the most advanced, convenient and fastest shopping experience on the market,” said Tomasz Blicharski, VP for finance and development at Zabka. “AiFi technology will enable us to offer customers faster service and optimise the management of traditional stores by franchisees, facilitating their daily operations. Additionally, we are working on developing a format of fully-automated stores, to be deployed in locations with very strong traffic. We can’t wait to let our customers and franchisees share the experience of a new dimension in daily shopping.”