Stora Enso launches solution for automated retail

Stora Enso introduces a turnkey solution for automated and unmanned retail. The solution, New Retail by Stora Enso, merges in-store and online shopping by using sustainable RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags for wireless authentication and payment.

At the core of the system are Intelligent Cabinets by Stora Enso, RFID-enabled e-kiosks designed for on-the-go purchasing using smart phones. Application markets for the solution include food and beverages in urban settings such as transportation hubs, offices, schools and hotels.

“After successfully launching sustainable ECO™ RFID tags it was a natural step to enter the automated retail market, where our technology can make a difference today,” says Martin Ros, Senior Vice President, Stora Enso Intelligent Packaging. “Based on our research and pilot deployments we see tremendous potential and scaling opportunities, especially in early adaptor markets for consumer convenience.”

The cabinets are unlocked from a smart phone via any compatible payment app such as WeChat and MobilePay. Each item has a tamper-proof, sustainable Stora Enso ECO RFID tag, which is automatically detected by the cabinet. When the cabinet door is closed, the consumer is charged via the app for the items taken out.

In addition to the RFID-based ECO tag technology and cabinets, Stora Enso offers a back-end solution for retailers to keep track of transactions, replenishment and other management needs. Stora Enso also provides the equipment for tagging the items that go in the intelligent cabinet. For cloud-based data collection and analytics services Stora Enso is partnering with Microsoft.