munich airport cashless payments

Germany’s Munich Airport is set to become the first location in Europe to offer mobile, cashless payments thanks to a partnership with Wirecard, SES-imagotag and wirecube.

The new friction-less payment system is being rolled out a eurotrade retail unit (MyCorner shop) located after security in Terminal 2 . The ‘Smart Checkout – Tap, Pay & Enjoy’ mobile payment solution enables consumers to use their smartphones to pay for articles right at the store shelf by scanning an electronic price tag. This eliminates waiting times at the cash register. And in contrast to existing payment systems on the European market, customers don’t need to download an app.

“By simplifying and speeding up the checkout process, we can deliver an even better shopping experience for our 48 million passengers per year and keep pace with their ever-increasing expectations,” said Philipp Ahrens, Vice President Center Management at Munich Airport.

To shop and place articles in their shopping basket, customers simply hold their smartphone up to the SES-imagotag digital shelf labels. The product is captured via near-field communication (NFC) or a camera scan of the QR code. The phone then opens a wirecube mobile web app within seconds enabling customers to complete their purchase by scanning their credit card with their phone camera or entering the card details manually.

After the pilot phase, the payment system will be extended to other eurotrade retail locations, including 12 duty free shops and 14 other stores offering magazines and newspapers, travel needs and souvenirs.

“The new payment system gives our customers a self-checkout option for the first time,” said Sven Zahn, Managing Director. “This offers significant added value for travellers in a hurry. And as Munich Airport’s retail arm, we are expecting a boost in sales – especially for fast turnover goods that are purchased on the go.”

Costs to retailers for setting up the new payment system are quite limited if the electronic shelf labels from SES-imagotag are used. By expanding the functionality of the labels to include a payment system, they become an additional point of sale that is far more cost-effective than conventional cash systems, both in terms of initial investment and ongoing expenses

 

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