Revolution in purchasing: New automated halls conquer Oberhavel!

Revolution in purchasing: New automated halls conquer Oberhavel!

In Teschendorf, a tranquil town in the Oberhavel district, shopping opportunities are being revolutionized. The entrepreneurs Christian Lambeck and Susanne Scheuermann opened the first fully automated department store here last year, which is considered a pioneer for a new era of shopping in rural regions. This innovative facility, known as “Emma's Kaufhalle,” has proven to be a huge success and is now expanding to four new locations. The new department stores will be opened in Beetz, Zehlendorf, Bärenklau and Potsdam-Krampnitz to further improve local supplies in the region. The needs of older people in particular play a central role.

The fully automated department store allows customers to select their products around the clock using touch screens and pay for them conveniently using their debit card. The goods are put together behind a concrete wall, so no staff is usually required on site. This technology is particularly practical for the rural population, who often rely on simple and flexible shopping options. In Teschendorf, around 700 products are available to customers, including many regional products, which strengthens the idea of ​​regionality and sustainability that is important to many consumers.

Expansion with challenges

The new locations are scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of September this year. Initially, however, customers have to be content with a slimmed-down version of a maximum of 150 products. The original supplier of the machines has gone bankrupt, so a new provider is taking on the challenges of supplying the goods. However, the founders' long-term plans are aimed at being able to offer the complete range of products in the future.

This generous investment of around 250,000 euros, which largely went into modern technology such as refrigeration machines and conveyor belts, shows that we are not just thinking about the present. A current study by BBE Handelsberatung confirms that small villages in Germany often have qualitative and quantitative gaps in local supplies. The expansion of fully automated department stores could be an answer to these deficits, as digital innovations and automated systems can promote regional value creation. BBE reports on the trend of smart stores that are emerging in both rural and urban areas.

A look into the future

Customers can look forward to a wide range of regional products that are always kept up to date. Christof Lehmann, a local supplier, supplies the department store with fresh meat and sausage products, which sustainably supports the idea of ​​regionality in local supply. The initiators also promise that the prices in the new department store will not be more expensive than in conventional supermarkets.

If the concept in Teschendorf remains successful, nothing stands in the way of a nationwide introduction of similarly automated shopping options in other eastern German regions. However, it remains to be seen how customers will react to the new shopping experience and whether it can be permanently integrated into everyday rural life. RBB describes that with new approaches and the changing needs of the population, the dynamic in rural care does not seem to be abating.