17 August 2007, 18:13 PM

  • The Rural Shops Alliance and North East Regional Development Agency are installing touch screen technology in 56 retail outlets in the north-east.

The ‘Argos like’ technology will allow customers to use their local stores to obtain details about nearby information and services. Consumers will also have the chance to purchase up to 400 products, available from other retail outlets in the area, by pressing a button on the screen. They would then buy the goods at the till in their local store and collect it again 48 hours later.

Retailers will benefit from the system, which is about the size of a Camelot lottery machine and comes at no cost, through commission on each product sold. If the trial is successful, it could be rolled out to 300 other stores in the area.