Lidl is introducing a new self scanning function within its Lidl Plus loyalty app, marking a further step in the retailer’s ongoing efforts to enhance the in store customer experience through digital innovation. The feature will be trialled from September in four selected stores through a friends and family test phase, with a broader phased rollout planned for next year.
The new capability allows customers to scan products as they shop, view real time updates of their total spending and savings, and complete payment at a self checkout terminal. The entire process is accessed through the existing Lidl Plus app, requiring no additional tools or interfaces.
Ryan McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer at Lidl GB, described the update as part of the supermarket’s wider digital transformation strategy. “This marks a significant leap forward in our digital evolution. Integrated into Lidl Plus, it’s designed to offer customers a smarter, faster, and more flexible way to shop. We’re investing heavily in technologies that simplify everyday life, while always offering our customers different options to suit their shopping preferences. Whether customers prefer the traditional checkout, self service or self scanning, at Lidl, they are always in control of how they shop.”
The new self scanning tool builds on earlier initiatives rolled out by Lidl GB this year. These include the Click, Reserve and Collect pilot, also operated through Lidl Plus, and the continued expansion of self checkout terminals across the retailer’s store network. The addition of in app scanning aims to provide an alternative option that complements existing checkout formats, offering customers greater autonomy in how they shop.
By embedding the technology directly into Lidl Plus, the company intends to streamline the user journey, combining digital loyalty benefits with enhanced in store functionality. The integration also reflects Lidl’s broader commitment to digital investment, focusing on scalable, user friendly solutions that support operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The trial phase will gather feedback on user experience and operational performance, shaping how the technology is implemented more widely across the UK. Lidl has not disclosed which locations will host the trial, but the move is positioned as a key part of the retailer’s future digital roadmap.
