Retail chain Auchan trials contactless mobile payments

The French supermarket chain Auchan has integrated Digicash’s mobile payment scheme that will allow customers to pay for their purchases via mobile phones using bluetooth and contactless beacons.

The trial is being conducted at Auchan Luxembourg and as part of the scheme, customers will be able to link their Auchan loyalty cards to their mobile banking app, which will automatically be topped up after every transaction using Digicash’s technology. The mobile payment system is a collaboration between Digisash, Auchan and BGL BNP Paribas.

To offer the payment solution to customers, Digicash beacons have been installed at the megastore’s tills, allowing contactless mobile payments to be made using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and NFC technology.

“This fantastic technological step forward means that we can consider using other applications linked to our business activity with the aim of improving the quality of service and making shopping more enjoyable for our customers,” said Marc Gueuzurian, Auchan Kirchberg megastore director.

The Digicash mobile payment tool has been available in Luxembourg since November 2012 and is issued by the four major banks of the country: BGL BNP Paribas, Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, Luxembourg (BCEE), Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) and POST Luxembourg.

Digicash is available as an app for iOS and Android smartphones and distributed by the participating banks. The app has been downloaded by more than 10 per cent of local bank clients.

“The Digicash payment app is linked to the bank’s Premium Benefits loyalty programme, which allows our customers to build up their kitty and enjoy a large number of extra-banking services,” said Kik Schneider, member of the BGL BNP Paribas Management Board and Head of Retail and Corporate Banking in Luxembourg

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