Skip to main content

Johan Bové

Had my first "Pick & Go" supermarket experience

2 min read

Around the corner of where I live in Düsseldorf Stadtmitte, more precisely "Am Wehrhahn" opened a hyper-modern "Pick & Go" Rewe supermarket.

This morning I went shopping there for the first time and I must admit, it worked seamlessly. Grabbed all the things I needed and placed it in my wheel-carrier, weighed the bananas and went to the self-checkout where I was greeted by a friendly hostess, and just confirmed what the system had registered in my purchase, without even having to take out everything again from the shopping trolly, confirmed the purchase, paid using NFC and walked out after scanning the code on the receipt. No app or initial registration was necessary. The system registers customers as avatars and then algorithms, (marketing term here is _AI_), deducts if you wanted to buy something or not through over 700 cameras and other sensors in the shop.

The tech is awesome. But it was for me still very nice to be greeted by a smiling human face at the end. And this is the key for me: instead of tediously scanning articles into the register, people can now help where needed and I do believe this gives them a stronger sense of work satisfaction. Don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong with being a cashier as a job. What I experienced today was just a bit more personal, as contra-dictory this may seem.

More about the system and the tech behind it: https://mediacenter.rewe.de/pressemitteilungen/rewe-pick-and-go-kuenftig-auch-in-duesseldorf and also https://www.trigoretail.com/customer-stories/rewe/

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

The Germans are big on trying to "digitalize paper work" - they do try, but then there are others (Act on Proof is the Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union ("Directive") adopted by the European legislator, which the German legislator must transfer into national law by 1 August 2022.) who think having everything related to employment contracts still works best when everything is printed out on dead trees; it's called the "Nachweisgesetz" - if employers not put new contracts (from August 2022 onwards) in paper they can be fined. So my employer, who was fully digitalised, has to go back to paper printed contracts.
Who wins with this really?
In English: https://www.engage.hoganlovells.com/knowledgeservices/news/the-reform-of-the-german-nachweisgesetz-a... and https://www.ecovis.com/duesseldorf-koeln/blog/2022/07/20/nachweisgesetz-arbeitsvertraege/

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Startseite | Pro Düsseldorf

Cool initiative for a better Düsseldorf

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Johan Bové

Things to Do with Kids in and around Düsseldorf, Germany

Since we became parents we have been faced the challenge of finding fun things to do with our kid. So Erica has been collecting a rather big list of places to see and things to do in and around Düsseldorf. We wanted to share with friends, but the list is probably useful for anyone with children; so here we go.

The page will probably update from time to time.