Empowering the Community for Abandoned Trolley Management
At QR Lost Notification, we believe in the power of community engagement and collective responsibility when it comes to addressing the issue of abandoned shopping trolleys. That’s why we have introduced the concept of “Wheelie Good Communities” – a proactive and positive approach to trolley management that encourages everyone to play a part in creating a cleaner and safer shopping environment.
The term “Wheelie Good Communities” encapsulates the idea of communities coming together to tackle the issue of abandoned trolleys, emphasising the collective responsibility we all share in maintaining a clean and organised shopping environment. By promoting the concept of “Wheelie Good Communities,” we aim to create a sense of pride and ownership among residents, local municipalities, and community groups. It encourages individuals to actively participate in spreading awareness, reporting abandoned trolleys, and working collaboratively with retailers and local authorities to find sustainable solutions.
Why Traditional Trolley Mangement Fails
When it comes to addressing the issue of abandoned shopping trolleys, several existing solutions have significant limitations and prove to be ineffective in effectively managing the problem. Let’s take a closer look at some of these shortcomings:
Mobile App Solutions
Many solutions rely on dedicated mobile apps for reporting abandoned trolleys. While these apps may offer some convenience, they create barriers to entry for the general public. Not everyone is willing or able to download and install a specific app, limiting the number of potential reporters. This lack of accessibility hinders the effectiveness of these solutions and results in fewer reports of abandoned trolleys.
1800 Phone Numbers
Another commonly used approach is providing a dedicated phone number for reporting abandoned trolleys. However, relying solely on phone calls poses its own set of challenges. It requires individuals to remember and dial the number, which may not always be convenient or readily accessible. Additionally, busy phone lines or long wait times can discourage people from reporting, resulting in delayed action and ineffective management. And, even if the reporter does get through, there is little to no confidence that the information and location of the trolley is actually passed to the correct department, or collector.
Public Reporting to the Store
Some retailers encourage the public to report abandoned trolleys directly to the store. While this may seem like a logical solution, it often lacks efficiency and fails to provide critical information. Without a standardised process or a clear mechanism for reporting, individuals may find it cumbersome to reach out to the store. Moreover, this method does not offer a streamlined way to provide essential details such as the trolley’s exact location, making it challenging for retailers to retrieve the trolleys promptly.
Lack of Information on the Trolleys
Some retailers utilise the handle for displaying store brand name, but lack basic information such as a contact details, or even store location. This creates difficulties for retailers and trolley collectors in identifying the ownership and origin of the trolleys. Without this crucial information, it becomes a time-consuming and inefficient process to track down the responsible party and retrieve the trolley.
Ineffectiveness of Trolley Collectors
Trolley collectors who roam the streets searching for lost trolleys face numerous challenges. The process is often unorganised and relies on chance encounters, and at times, known hotspot locations. It is a reactive approach rather than a proactive one, resulting in delayed retrieval and potential hazards caused by abandoned trolleys. Additionally, trolley collectors face limitations in covering vast areas efficiently, leading to an incomplete retrieval process, excessive costs in transportation and staffing hours.
Ineffectiveness of Wheel Locking or Wheel Breaking Systems
Some solutions propose using wheel locks or wheel-breaking mechanisms to prevent the unauthorised movement of trolleys. While these measures may initially appear promising, they come with their own set of challenges. Implementing wheel locks requires significant upfront costs and ongoing maintenance, including the regular replacement of batteries, which contributes to electronic waste. Furthermore, determined individuals may find ways to bypass or damage these locks, rendering them ineffective. Wheel-breaking systems, on the other hand, not only pose safety hazards but also result in irreparable damage to trolleys, leading to unnecessary waste and increased costs for retailers. These solutions fail to address the root cause of the problem and instead focus solely on immobilising the trolleys, (at great expense) without offering a comprehensive and sustainable approach to trolley management.
Coin or Token Locks
One widely known solution in the market is the trolley locking system utilised by certain retailers like Aldi, where customers are required to pay a nominal fee to hire a trolley, either through a coin or a dedicated app such as the Coles App trial. Coin locks have long been considered a viable solution to prevent trolleys from leaving store boundaries. However, it is important to note that this approach does not effectively deter individuals who are determined to walk away with a trolley full of shopping. With the value of the shopping easily exceeding the small hire fee, it does not serve as a significant deterrent for those who continue to abandon trolleys in communities, as evidenced by council reports.
Where as, in areas like Midland Shopping precinct, where multiple retailers coexist in a shopping centre, this approach proves less effective. Customers often opt for trolleys from other stores, such as Coles, Woolworths, Target, or Kmart, disregarding the coin lock system implemented by a specific retailer like Aldi.
While Aldi trolleys may appear less frequently in reports of lost trolleys, this skewed data does not negate the fact that retailers bear the substantial cost of these losses. Data from the City of Swan’s abandoned shopping trolley retrieval trial for the Midland shopping precinct, is a prime example of the ineffective use of coin or token locks. Aldi was reported to have lost 110 trolleys despite having a coin lock system, while Spudshed Midland, a comparative store in size, also lost 103. This data highlights the need for a more comprehensive solution that takes into account the cross-store trolley migration phenomenon, and proves that regarless of any coil locking system, trolleys still end up in the community.
Moreover, the limitation of the trolley locking system lies in the absence of an effective mechanism to locate abandoned trolleys once they have been left in the community. This gap in the current solution poses challenges for retailers and municipalities in promptly identifying and retrieving abandoned trolleys. This is where QR Lost Notification offers a valuable complement to existing solutions like the trolley locking system. With its cost-effective and simple implementation, QR Lost Notification provides an additional layer of support by reporting the exact location of abandoned trolleys, enabling efficient retrieval and minimising the impact on the community.
How We're Different: Community Engagement
One of the key shortcomings of current trolley management solutions is their narrow focus on only one aspect of the problem. Whether it’s relying on public reporting, dedicated apps, or token, coin or wheel locking systems, these solutions target isolated elements of trolley management. They overlook the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the entire lifecycle of trolleys, from prevention and awareness to retrieval and responsible ownership. By neglecting key components, these solutions fail to create a cohesive system that effectively tackles the issue of abandoned trolleys. In contrast, our Wheelie Good Communities initiative and QR Lost Notification system encompass a comprehensive approach that engages the community, facilitates prompt reporting, enables efficient retrieval, and fosters long-term behavioral change. We recognise that a multifaceted strategy is crucial to achieving lasting results and creating a sustainable solution for trolley management.
It is evident that existing solutions for trolley management fall short in providing a comprehensive, efficient, and community-driven approach. These limitations hinder the effectiveness of efforts to address the problem of abandoned trolleys, leading to increased costs for retailers, councils, and a negative impact on the community and the environment.
By seamlessly integrating QR codes on ALL trolleys and leveraging community involvement, retailers can benefit from a solution that goes beyond the limitations of coin locks or store-specific apps. QR Lost Notification provides real-time reporting of lost or abandoned trolleys, regardless of the retailer’s brand, and can run along side current management systems, ensuring efficient retrieval and reducing the financial burden on retailers and communities. This holistic approach acknowledges the interconnected nature of trolley management challenges and offers a more comprehensive and sustainable solution.
The Technology Behind Our Solution
With the QR Lost Notification system and our Wheelie Good Communities initiative, we offer a groundbreaking solution that overcomes these challenges. By utilising the native QR code scanning feature on smartphones, our user-friendly approach enables anyone in the community to report abandoned trolleys instantly, without the need for a dedicated app. This inclusive and accessible system revolutionises trolley management by providing accurate and real-time information to retailers, councils, and trolley collectors, facilitating swift retrieval and ensuring a cleaner and safer shopping environment for all.
It’s time to move away from ineffective and inefficient solutions and embrace a community-driven approach that leverages technology and collective responsibility. Together, we can make a significant difference in tackling the problem of abandoned trolleys and create Wheelie Good Communities that take pride in their surroundings and actively contribute to maintaining a clean and organised shopping environment.
The goal is to foster a community-driven approach that goes beyond simply addressing the problem of abandoned trolleys. We want to inspire and empower people to take ownership of their surroundings, instilling a sense of shared responsibility and promoting a culture of cleanliness and orderliness within their communities.
Through initiatives such as educational programs, community events, and collaborative campaigns, we believe that “Wheelie Good Communities” can make a significant impact in resolving the trolley management challenge. It’s an inclusive and engaging concept that motivates everyone to contribute and be part of the solution.
