Oman's first cashierless store opens

Omantel and Omani Oil Marketing collaborate to open first cashierless store

Oman's first cashierless store was officially opened this week at the headquarters of Omantel in Madinat al Irfan, in the country's capital area. The smart store was developed in collaboration with Omani Oil Marketing Company and is part of the petrol firm's Ahlain chain of convenience stores. 

Powered by artificial intelligence and IoT, the new Ahlain smart store offers a queue-free, cashless, grab-and-go shopping experience. AI sensors automatically detect items in shoppers' baskets allowing them to simply walk out with their items without having to scan or checkout purchases. 

Customers are first required to download Omantel's E-Dukkan app and set it up with their bank details. They can then use the app to enter the smart store. After exiting the store, shoppers are billed automatically via the E-Dukkan app, deducting the payment from the customer's virtual wallet.

The Ahlain store is the third smart store opening backed by a big retail chain to take place in the region during the past six months. Last year, we saw ADNOC Distribution and Carrefour launch state-of-the-art autonomous retail stores in the UAE, using smart shelf technologies and offering a cashierless checkout experience for shoppers. Like ADNOC petrol marketing arm, Oman Oil is well placed to create additional smart stores across its network, based on learnings from this first concept store.

Find out more about cashierless retail:

• Read the Oman Daily Observer story.

• Read my 2021 review of automation in the retail sector (Linkedin)