John Lewis trials mobile point-of-sale with transactional tablets

It is testing the use of transactional tablets in three stores - John Lewis Cheadle, John Lewis Brent Cross and Peter Jones in Sloane Square - enabling shoppers to buy directly from assistants on the shop floor. The tablets are fully linked to the shop’s till systems and are being trialled in a number of departments, including technology and white goods.

The retailer has also mapped its Oxford Street, London flagship in Google Street View. The service allows customers to navigate the store and walk virtually through the aisles. The aim is to help shoppers navigate their way around the store and plan their shopping trip.

If the trial is successful John Lewis will look into rolling it out to other branches in the next two years.

In the retailer’s Sloane Square and Watford stores it is piloting the use of ChargeBox, which provides shoppers with 30 minutes of charging for their mobile devices for free.

John Lewis director of retail operations development Simon Russell said: “We intend to keep investing and innovating in our shops so that they remain compelling and hassle-free places for customers, offering multiple reasons to visit them. Partly this will see us use an increasing amount of technology to make shopping easier and offer more in shop help.

“But this is also about offering inspiring experiences, such as our recent catering partnership with Scandinavian café brand, Joe & the Juice.”