On August 8, domestic retail chain Selver AS, which has more than 70 stores, and the innovator of autonomous store technology solutions Grab2Go AS signed a letter of intent (LOI) for a joint pilot project. The aim of the cooperation is to test the market viability of the innovative autonomous store technology Grab2Go. In the letter of intent, the parties agreed that the pilot project will use the technology of the autonomous Grab2Go store, which is located in front of the Öpiku building in the Ülemiste district of Tallinn. The opening date of the autonomous store will be determined in the course of further cooperation. Grab2Go's technology allows for continuous operation in 24/7 mode, meaning that the autonomous store is open around the clock. The store's product range will be specified as the pilot project progresses. According to Selver CEO Kristi Lomp, the retail chain has always set the tone and been a flagship in the use of new technologies in Estonian commerce. “We are very pleased to introduce a cutting-edge high-tech solution in cooperation with Grab2Go. The pilot project gives us the opportunity to test the format of an autonomous store open 24/7 and evaluate the potential of this solution in the Estonian market. The project will provide us with invaluable knowledge and opportunities for the future, which will allow Selver to remain at the forefront of retail development and offer customers the best possible service,” said Kristi Lomp. “Cooperation with Selver allows us to demonstrate the capabilities of our technology in a real, everyday working environment. We are confident that this pilot project will prove the effectiveness and suitability of autonomous solutions for retail,” added Mart Viilipus, CEO of Grab2Go. “Grab2Go is the first retailer to pilot its services within the Test City concept of the urban space,” said Ursel Velve, CEO of Mainor Ülemiste and Head of Innovation at Ülemiste City. He noted that the cooperation is undoubtedly interesting for all participants, as the innovation-oriented community of the district, numbering 17,000 people, is an excellent test group for the service. “The goal of the developers of Ülemiste City is to create a 24/7 urban space where all services are within walking distance. The standalone store is an excellent service for testing and fully supports the strategic goal of the district. Since the target audience of the service is broad and the test store is located in the central part of the district, this allows us to collect high-quality data and draw conclusions based on it, which will help Grab2Go develop the service and, hopefully, scale it up in the near future,” Ursel Velve added. The Selver retail network, founded on local capital, includes e-Selver, which provides delivery throughout Estonia, 71 Selver stores, two Delice stores and a Selver mobile store – with a total sales area of 120,400 m². Selver's subsidiary Kulinaaria OÜ is the largest ready-made meal manufacturer in Estonia, manufacturing products under the Selveri Köök brand. Selver is part of the publicly traded company TKM Grupp. Selver employs approximately 3,000 people. In 2023, sales revenue was 627.8 million euros, with customers making 44.2 million purchases during the year. Grab2Go is an Estonian tech company whose innovative technology is changing the way convenience stores and pharmacies operate. Grab2Go's solution is focused on reducing daily business costs, with an emphasis on overcoming labor shortages, reducing high operating costs, and improving inefficient logistics. The company also focuses on reducing food waste, lowering rental costs, using real-time data, and implementing sustainable practices such as achieving carbon neutrality. The company's innovation is its autonomous store technology, which optimizes operations using IoT data. Ülemiste City is the largest business district in the Baltics, developed by Mainor AS and Mainor Ülemiste AS. On a 30-hectare area, 167,000 square meters of rentable office space have been built. Ülemiste City is home to almost 500 companies and provides a working, studying and living environment for 17,000 people. Read RusDelfi wherever it is convenient for you. Follow us on Facebook, Telegram, Instagram and even TikTok.
