London-based payment provider MishiPay has started rolling out its self-checkout technology across Virgin Megastore outlets in the UAE.
MishiPay seeks to progressively alter the shopping landscape in the region by eliminating the need for long checkout queues.
Customers can pay for items by scanning barcodes via the Mishi application and completing payments by using their phones.
CEO and founder of MishiPay, Mustafa Khanwala, said: “The beauty of our technology is that it is valuable to both shops and shoppers.
“We have created a process that is seamless and frictionless for customers, and we are delighted that the outstanding commercial results and positive shopper feedback have powered the next phase in the deployment at reputed stores in the UAE and KSA.
“Entering a new market for the first time is always very exciting, and to do so with a brand as strong as Virgin Megastore has been a brilliant experience. There is a clear synergy between our brand and the cutting-edge experiences we want to create for customers. We are looking forward to bringing the benefits of our technology to more shoppers in the UAE and elsewhere in the Middle East in the coming weeks.”
Established in 2015, MishiPay has gained a foothold in the UK, Europe and the US through collaborations with retailers like MUJI, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Londis and SPAR.
It is not the first time Virgin Megastore has ushered in convenient techno features to its stores. Two years ago, brand experts started to offer free 1-1 video calls with customers, emulating personal concierges.
In the past few years, the UAE has been accelerating the adoption of fintech services in the retail sector. Last September, Majid Al Futtaim opened the region’s first AI-powered checkout-free Carrefour City+ based on the scan-and-go system.
