The first unmanned 24/7 store, which is fully managed by the municipality, has opened in the municipality of Rváčov.

On Monday, April 14, the grand opening of the “Obchůdek 24/7” store took place in the municipality of Vysočina – Rváčov in the Pardubice region. The original state of the store with counter sales and limited opening hours had long since ceased to meet customer expectations. KNOWINSTORE therefore suggested transforming the store into a modern store, not only visually but also technically.

In cooperation with the MP and the local mayor Tomáš Dubský, it was possible to set up an unmanned store that serves everyone, including working citizens who were previously unable to shop there due to the short opening hours. It operates in a so-called hybrid mode, where the operator is present for part of the day and access to the store is enabled by a user application. For those who, for whatever reason, do not use the app, an alternative solution has been prepared – the municipal office will issue them with a non-transferable NFC card for entry and payment after verifying their personal details.

The opening ceremony was attended by important media representatives, including the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Lukáš Vlček, the Director of the Department of Business Environment and Commercial Operations, Mr. Pavel Vinkler, the aforementioned MP and Mayor, Mr. Tomáš Dubský, as well as representatives of the implementers, including the company’s team. KNOWINSTORE, the business cooperative, the mayor and local residents.

 

The handover of the “store” to the first customers was followed by a professional program, starting with lectures on the current support programs for municipalities supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. This was followed by a panel discussion on the digitization of municipalities, during which representatives from the ranks of implementers, operators, business cooperatives, etc. reported on their experiences to date and future plans.

 

However, digitization in the municipality does not end with this event. On the contrary, it is seen as a kind of “springboard” for further projects, as Mayor T. Dubský noted. For example, there are plans to set up an autonomous library or a community center that will be accessible to citizens at any time and for everyone. The aim is to give people the opportunity to meet and spend time together, regardless of opening hours and the services still required.