Digital receipts are becoming ever more prevalent throughout the UK, as increasing numbers of stores ditch paper receipts in favour of a more environmentally friendly alternative.
The eco credentials of digital receipts aren’t the only reason that stores are shunning paper receipts, however. Digital receipts also provide invaluable opportunities for data collection, enabling companies to improve the customer experience through careful analysis of customer data.
eyosretail has carried out research of almost 30 UK retailers – including those specialising in fashion, food and electrics – to uncover the options they have available for their receipts.
The survey found that 76% of the stores analysed offered paper receipts. A high percentage (84%) offered digital receipts, while 60% gave customers the option of both paper and digital receipts.
The research found that four in 25 retailers (16%) provide customers with paper receipts only. Interestingly, a greater percentage (24%) of retailers have started to rely exclusively on digital receipts.
Fashion retail outlets were far more likely to provide customers with digital receipts. Of the stores analysed, just one (Primark) did not yet offer customers the option of digital receipts. The research showed that nine of the 13 fashion companies included have this option in store, however, the majority of fashion retail stores surveyed also still allowed customers to request paper receipts.
Supermarkets are less likely to offer digital receipts, but a handful of them have begun to offer customers the option at the checkout.
Of the food outlets surveyed, six out of seven provided the option of paper receipts for both online and in-store purchases. Over half of the supermarkets analysed offered the option of digital receipts, but stores such as Tesco, Aldi and Asda are yet to introduce this option for customers shopping in their stores.
The carbon footprint of a paper receipt is considerable, with each receipt emitting an estimated 2.5g of carbon during its lifetime. This includes all stages of a paper receipt’s production, together with any time spent in transit from a production facility to a warehouse and then eventually the store where it’ll be used.
Simon Harris, sales director at eyosretail, said: “Our research around digital receipt offerings from UK retailers is interesting as it shows how far things have progressed in cutting out paper receipts altogether.
“The environmental impact of them, whilst not commonly known, are enormous so we would always advise consumers to ask for a digital receipt if it’s not offered in-store, plus it’s much more convenient if you ever want a refund or return.
