New Woolworths Scan&Go app lets you pay for groceries from the aisles

How your shopping will change forever: Woolworths launch new scan and go app that can see you pay for you groceries from the aisles

  • Scan&Go allows customers to scan items as they shop, avoiding the checkout
  • Payment is made via the Woolworths app when you have all your groceries
  • But it is only available to Everyday Rewards members, and at 31 of its 995 stores
  • Woollies says 1 in 20 Scan&Go shoppers will be selected for a bag search 

Paying for your groceries at the checkout is becoming a thing of the past for an increasing number of Australians.

Woolworths has continued expanding its new Scan&Go system that allows shoppers to scan items as they take them off the shelves, and pay on an app, instead of needing to do it at the checkout or self-serve.

Walkerville and West Lakes stores, in South Australia, are the latest Woolworths to introduce Scan&Go.

Scan&Go is being introduced through more and more Woolworths stores – so far 31 out of the chains 995 – allowing customers to skip the regular checkout or self-serve. Fresh produce needs to be weighed then scanned

Items can be scanned as you take them off the shelf and place them in your trolley

Items can be scanned as you take them off the shelf and place them in your trolley

Scan&Go was first trialled at the Double Bay store in Sydney in 2018 and has since been expanded to 31 outlets, mainly in NSW but also in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the ACT and now South Australia.

The system is not yet in Woolworths stores in the Northern Territory or Tasmania.

It is only available to Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards members. 

The contents of your basket or trolley must all be scanned to ensure you pay for everything.

Fruit and vegetables still need to be weighed on a scale in the fresh produce section, where the readout will show a scannable barcode.

Alcohol, knives and other sharp objects, matches and lighters cannot be bought using the system.

To ensure shoppers don’t scan the wrong items or fail to scan some, the store says ‘1 in 20’ shoppers will be selected for a ‘bag check, just to make sure everything is fine.’

While customers get to skip the standard item-y-item chckout they will have to leave the store via a Scan&Go queue, where they also scan a QR code on exit.

Customers still need to scan out of the store at a QR code reader

Customers still need to scan out of the store at a QR code reader

‘Once you’re done, pay via the app, scan your QR code at the Scan&Go Checkout, and you’re on your way.’

The technology requires a recent iPhone or Android phone, with Bluetooth and location services turned on and works best with your own mobile data.  

‘Free wifi is available, however we recommend using [your own] mobile data.’

Woolworths pointed out that anyone who doesn’t want to use Scan&Go can still use the checkout or self-serve.