syreta establishes the first hybrid Smart Store in Gaflenz

The project, for which a citizen cooperative was specially founded, aims to ensure local supply in Gaflenz. The store was built using sustainable timber frame construction.

Last year, the digitalization expert syreta from Wels, Upper Austria, successfully built and commissioned around 20 autonomous stores in Austria. For the new local supplier "LENZ" in Gaflenz, which features all the advantages of a traditional store, such as a delicatessen counter, but operates unmanned at certain times, the proven technology of syreta was once again installed.

The centerpiece of the store is the syreta Retail Hub Mini, which is unique worldwide in its current form and allows any sales area to be operated autonomously. The hub integrates all electronic and network distribution along with all hardware and software components into a single device, and thanks to its plug-and-play and modular design, it can be quickly and easily deployed, enabling a fast and scalable rollout. "All electronic components of the store, along with the corresponding interfaces, are integrated into the hub. These include the complete building control for lighting and air conditioning, monitoring of all refrigeration and freezer components, access control systems, control of digital signage elements, payment terminals, and the control of electronic price labeling and video surveillance," explains the management of syreta.

Customers gain access to the Smart Store easily with their debit or credit card, which they present to a reader at the entrance. With the card, they can later pay quickly and easily in the store after independently scanning the products themselves.

Ensuring rural supply with a sustainable aspect

The community of 2,000 inhabitants, like many other rural areas, faced the issue of having no shopping facility directly in the village after the closure of its local supplier due to retirement. For this reason, some locals came together and founded a citizen cooperative with the goal of bringing a local supplier back to the village. The cooperative "GENIAL-REGIONAL-GAFLENZTAL eGen" initiated all necessary steps to establish the store and will also operate it.

Great emphasis is placed on sustainability by the members. "For the benefit of the environment, the building was constructed using timber frame construction, and the future assortment is intended to consist of 35-40% regional and seasonal products," reports Ferdinand Rettensteiner, one of the founding members of the cooperative. Products that cannot be sourced directly from the immediate region will be supplied to "LENZ" by the partner Nah & Frisch. Additionally, the new grocery store will offer customers a small selection of unpackaged goods.

syreta as a strong partner for a forward-looking project

Especially in rural areas, there has been the problem for several years that residents sometimes no longer have local suppliers directly available in their residential areas. Often, long distances need to be covered for shopping. The concept of the Smart Store effectively counters this and ensures the supply of daily necessities. Additionally, in the hybrid application form, staff can provide assistance at set times or offer fresh products in the delicatessen department.

With the sophisticated technology of syreta, which has already been implemented in a retail chain in Germany, hurdles such as staff shortages can be overcome, and the supply of communities can be ensured again.