Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland has partnered with Inflyter to introduce its first duty free vending machine, which offers travellers at Geneva Airport a fully digital duty free shopping experience, available 24 hours a day.

 

“The custom-designed, digital outlet will generate incremental revenue and transform a high traffic airport zone into a self-service commercial space,” said Lagardère

 

Travellers flying into Geneva Airport can order, pay and collect duty free items in under 60 seconds, offering them a fast and convenient way to shop when the Aelia Duty Free store might be closed, and an alternative shopping method for travellers who prefer a fully digital and contactless purchase experience.

 

OPENING WITH TOBACCO

Travellers can make purchases directly from an interactive touch-screen menu, where they can select from a range of bestselling duty free products. Initially, the machine will only stock tobacco, but is able to carry fragrances, skincare, cosmetics and other duty paid goods (the selling of alcohol is prohibited in Switzerland).

 

Travel and age verification checks are made using an integrated scanner for boarding passports and identity cards, and once payment is made, the relevant compartment doors automatically open and the customer can retrieve their items. The associated customs documentation and receipts are then issued.

 

“The vending unit has been positioned in the arrivals lounge outside the Aelia Duty Free store in Geneva Airport to complement the opening hours of the shop and maximise the opportunity of final impulse purchases at this final shopping touchpoint in the passenger journey,” added the retailer.

In addition to the large touchscreen on the front of the automated retail unit, there are two large sides screens providing the ability to showcase the bestselling products and digital media opportunities for brands to further extend their visibility, reach and deliver fully integrated, marketing campaigns across all available channels in the airport and in-store.

 

INFLYTER APP

The launch of this innovative, custom-designed digital vending machine marks an extension and new milestone in the company’s partnership with French company Inflyter to improve travellers’ digital duty free shopping experiences.

 

Travellers to and from Geneva Airport previously engaged with the Inflyter app in order to collect in-store at the airport. More recently Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland enhanced the service to give customers more choice and convenience by allowing them to have their duty free purchases delivered at their boarding gate.

Commenting on this announcement, Pascal Le Droff, CEO at Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland, said: “This new digital installation sees us launch our first fully automated, self-service sales channel which will optimise our operational costs while generating incremental revenue from what would be a non-viable commercial space at the airport.

 

“With international passenger numbers starting to pick up, we want to be at the forefront of digital transformation and actively explore how we can offer innovation that better services our existing duty free shoppers and reach new ones.”

 

LATENT COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITES

Wassim Saadé, Founder and CEO of Inflyter, added: “It’s exciting to collaborate with a partner who shares our vision of wanting to offer new and convenient digital duty free shopping experiences that travellers expect, and can see how digital innovation will generate incremental revenue and uncover latent commercial opportunities that have yet to be realised.

 

“We are excited about how we can further support Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland to grow their digital duty free revenues.”

 

Pierre Germain, Commercial Director at Geneva Airport, added: “We are extremely pleased to fully support the digital duty free initiatives being led by Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland and Inflyter, as they continue to introduce brand new, world-leading shopping and service experiences to our passengers.

 

“This innovative, fully digital, automated retail unit gives our arriving passengers another choice as to how, where and when they shop and allows us to assist our retail partners in securing new sales channels and revenue opportunities for their business.”