Corner shop 2.0

It all started with an empty cowshed...

In the greater Bern area, people are busy sowing, planting, cultivating, harvesting and processing. But not all producers have the location or the time to market their produce. This is where the Lehmann family from Lyssach comes in. They offer food producers from the region a suitable sales platform. Families on low incomes should also be able to afford fresh produce. To make these prices possible, work processes are constantly being improved. Urs Lehmann reveals why they work with Arcavis in their farm stores and what the cowshed is all about. He is the 3rd generation managing director, a trained chef and is always tinkering with new recipes.

Today you run several branches and have a loyal customer base, how did it all start?

It all started when my parents merged their businesses at the beginning of the 90s. The farm on my mother's side had more space, so the cows had to move. What remained was an empty cowshed on a busy street. In the beginning, they sold what was left in the home garden. Demand increased, the area under cultivation was enlarged and regional producers were brought on board.

You run the Dorfbach Märit without staff, how has the concept been received by your customers?

Very well! Our customers appreciate the ease of shopping for fresh produce from the region.

Our partner Baldegger & Sortec supported you with the introduction of Arcavis. What was your experience?

The collaboration with Baldegger Sortec went smoothly right from the start. If we have any questions, the supporter is there for us.

How does Arcavis make your everyday life easier?

Arcavis takes care of cashing up in the store for us. In addition, article management and the creation of invoices and delivery bills are elementary for us. Arcavis gives us an overview at all times and speeds up our processes. This allows us to concentrate on the essentials.

Do you have any tips for colleagues who would like to take the step towards an unattended store?

Less is more - the more "explanatory signs" there are, the more mistakes happen. Self-service is intended for quick shopping, rarely does anyone read the instructions. What's in the store should be self-explanatory, and Arcavis is just right for this.

Shopping around the clock and Arcavis right in the middle of it all

Round-the-clock shopping without sales staff is no longer a vision of the future in the idyllic Geratal (DE). There is a store in the middle of the village that is open 24/7. It sells groceries and everyday products. The principle is simple: anyone who wants to use the store simply applies for an access card. They then shop as usual, scan their purchases at the point of sale and pay digitally at the end.

And what about the age check?

Certain products require an age check. There are two options for this at Arcavis:

Variant with QR code:

For self-checkout with available staff, the QR code of an Arcavis user can be scanned to approve the articles (age check), with or without a PIN request.

Variant with webcam:

For a fully autonomous self-scanning point of sale, Arcavis can analyze a travel document for age verification. To do this, the customer simply holds their identity card up to the camera, for example, and it is then automatically approved.