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Esselunga is testing the Ufirst app in some stores in Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Piedmont to reserve a place in the queue and avoid long queues. Here’s how it works
Esselunga, a supermarket chain present in much of Italy, has introduced a new technological solution to help its customers not waste too much time shopping: the Ufirst app. It is a free application that allows you to “reserve” a seat without having to physically queue up. An innovative and smart way to avoid the crowds in front of supermarkets and better manage the influx of people.
Observing social distancing is very important when you go shopping: there is a risk of infecting many people in a very short time. A quota entry has certainly caused problems, but it is the only sure way to avoid contagion. Logically, this has led to lines where waiting times before entering the supermarket can exceed two hours. For this reason, Esselunga decided to test the Ufirst app in some stores in Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Piedmont: if the experiment is successful, it can be used in all supermarkets in Italy.
The Ufirst application is not the only technological solution for monitoring the influx of customers in a given supermarket: during this period, several websites and applications were created that allow you to check the waiting time in the supermarket. However, Ufirst has an additional feature: it also allows you to reserve a seat and manage the influx of guests in the best possible way.
How Ufirst, the Queue Skipping Application Works
Ufirst is not an application specifically made by Esselunga, but it is a platform that has been around for a while and is used by other companies all over Italy as well. The app is free and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store.
How does the saltacoda app work in Esselunga supermarkets? The platform integrates with a system developed so far by a supermarket chain to manage queue jumps. Users who have downloaded Ufirst will be able to reserve their place in the queue via the app: they need to locate the Esselunga store that uses Ufirst closest to their place of residence and queue up with a simple tap on their smartphone. You can also use the app to see the progress of your queue so you can leave the house a few minutes before your queue.
For people who don’t know how to use the app, Esselunga has also thought of an alternative method: you can reserve a place in the queue by calling the store and you will be notified via SMS when he needs to leave the house.
This system will be very useful, especially as summer arrives: if the quota rules remain in force to avoid new Covid-19 outbreaks, managing the influx to supermarkets via an app or platform will be essential to avoid creating long lines under the sun.
Esselunga which stores can use Ufirst
For now, the Ufirst app is only active in some Esselunga stores in Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Piedmont. To see which ones are available, download the app and see which one is closest to your home. The system is still being tested to understand how it works and to correct any errors.
