The first step in the extended partnership is for Hanshow to supply ESL to all Ahold Delhaize’s European brands in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Romania. In the Joint Innovation Lab, Hanshow and Ahold Delhaize will develop other digital innovations such as frictionless payment, in-store navigation, and in-store advertising.  

As part of the collaboration, Hanshow will move its European head office to the Amsterdam region, close to the Ahold Delhaize Global Support Office. This move will allow both teams to work closely together and simultaneously develop and test new solutions. 

“The digital applications we will develop through this partnership will enhance the customer experience in our stores and allow us to operate more efficiently,” said Wouter Kolk, CEO Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia. “Hanshow offers best-in-class in-store applications and know-how, and we have been very pleased with their contribution to the mobile phone scan and pay service ‘YesWeScan’ at Delhaize and with the first wave of installed ESL at Albert Heijn. This is an important step for Ahold Delhaize and our local brands to offer an easy and attractive shopping experience to our customers.” 

The rollout follows a self-checkout pilot that has been running at the group’s Delhaize Fresh Atelier store in Brussels since April 2019.

The YesWeScan pilot allowed customers to scan product barcodes with their smartphones and then add the items to an electronic shopping basket. They could then check out on their mobile phone and receive a receipt via email.

The retail group is working with electronic shelf edge label (ESL) provider Hanshow Technology on the project.