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Checkers Sixty60 recognised as Most Innovative Solution at 2024 FNB App of the Year Awards

Checkers Sixty60, South Africa’s #1 delivery app with over 5 million downloads, has walked away with a 2024 FNB App of the Year Award. The first edition of the app was an award-winning solution on its own, but version two of Sixty60, launched last month, has earned them the accolade of both the Most Innovative Solution as well as Best Consumer Solution.

The category of Most Innovative Solution looks at first-to-market, one-of-a-kind and groundbreaking solutions that have disrupted the industry.

“After six months of beta testing, we finalised the national roll-out of the brand-new Checkers Sixty60 app in November.

This new platform allows customers to shop for both groceries and general merchandise items in a single place, all delivered on the same day within a 60-minute window. We are very honoured and proud to be recognised by the 2024 FNB App of the Year Awards for our continuous pursuit of excellence in innovation and relentless drive to make the everyday effortless for our customers,” said Neil Schreuder, Chief of Strategy and Innovation for the Shoprite Group.

The app also offers unlimited free deliveries with Xtra Savings Plus subscription service for only R99 per month. Consumers can shop effortlessly via Visa, Mastercard, or FNB for eBucks rewards, combining convenience, speed, and savings in one easy to navigate app.

Checkers launched the Sixty60 on-demand grocery delivery platform in November 2019, initially targeting select areas in Sandton, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.  The service gained significant traction, reaching over 4.5 million downloads and expanding to 505 stores by December 2023. Despite initial scepticism about the sustainability of online grocery delivery post-lockdown, Sixty60 has continued to thrive, reporting a 58.1% sales growth for the year ending June 2024, solidifying its position as South Africa’s leading grocery shopping app.

The latest version of Checkers Sixty60 sees a refined layout and user interface, and multi-factor authentication to enhance security. In addition to the wide range of groceries and essentials, shoppers can now order over 10,000 larger general merchandise products from Checkers Hyper stores nationwide for same day delivery, within precise sixty-minute time slots, allowing customers to avoid lengthy waits and inconvenient all-day delivery times usually associated with household items.

More than 2 500 additional app-only premium products have also been added – for delivery in Cape Town. This includes 100 new brands such as Apple, Dyson, Thule, Smeg, Samsung, and Harmon Kardon with more being added over the coming months.  Following a staggered roll-out, the rest of the country will gain access to these extended premium ranges over the coming months.

This year saw Engen sponsor the category of Most Innovative Solution at the 2024 FNB App of the Year Awards, reinforcing its position as a leader in innovation and digital transformation.

“By aligning with these awards, Engen showcases its commitment to fostering cutting-edge solutions that improve customer experiences and operational efficiency. This partnership highlights Engen’s dedication to embracing innovation as a core value while inspiring new advancements in the tech and business sectors,” says Langutela Siweya​​​​, Retail Digital and Innovation Manager at Engen.

Siweya adds that this category attracted a remarkable calibre of entries, showcasing groundbreaking ideas that push the boundaries of technology and redefine industry norms.

“These entries represent some of the most forward-thinking solutions in the market, demonstrating creativity, practicality, and the potential to disrupt and reshape their respective industries”.

Engen itself pioneered a fuel and convenience store app for motorists which was released in 2020.  The Engen 1app has seen a strong and steadily growing uptake, reflecting its value to motorists, and has become a key tool for enhancing customer convenience, offering features such as cashless payments, fuel vouchers, loyalty rewards, and engaging gamification through initiatives like Spin & Win. The growing user base and active engagement demonstrate the app’s success in meeting customer needs and driving digital adoption.

“Digital solutions are revolutionising customer convenience and service delivery by streamlining processes, offering personalised experiences, and providing seamless access to products and services. These solutions also empower businesses to better understand and anticipate customer needs through data-driven insights, enabling tailored offerings and improved responsiveness. Ultimately, digital innovation fosters greater efficiency, accessibility, and satisfaction, creating meaningful connections between brands and their customers,” says Siweya.

The FNB App of the Year Awards 2024 continues to spotlight transformative digital solutions that make a meaningful impact across various sectors. It has proven to be a launchpad for past winners, some of whom have successfully raised funds and scaled their apps to reach wider audiences.

For more information about the FNB App of the Year Awards 2024, please visit https://appoftheyear.co.za/ .

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