Madrid, Spain – In a pioneering move, the Juan Vindel Farmacia in Madrid has become the first pharmacy in Spain to implement a completely touch-free RFID-based self-checkout system for over-the-counter products. The solution, called Fast4shop, was developed by Valencia-based tech startup Futurian and powered by RFID hardware provided by Cisper.
The Challenge: Improving Speed, Hygiene, and Usability
Traditional self-checkout solutions in pharmacies—typically barcode-based with touchscreen interfaces—can be slow, error-prone, and raise hygiene concerns. Moreover, they often lack the flexibility to handle on-the-fly changes in the shopping cart, forcing staff to intervene.
Futurian set out to design a seamless self-checkout experience based on RFID technology, enabling intuitive interaction, faster transactions, and full product control—without touchscreens or manual scanning.
The Solution: Fast4shop, Powered by RFID
Fast4shop is a fully contactless, self-service checkout system built on UHF RFID. Every product is tagged, and customers simply place items in a dedicated checkout area. Items can be added or removed freely during the process, and checkout is completed via a simple tap with a phone or payment card—no screen touch required.
Key features:
- Short-range RFID readers identify all products in real time.
- AM-based anti-theft tags are automatically deactivated during the checkout process.
- No human interaction is needed for standard OTC purchases.
The Technology Behind the Solution
To ensure accuracy, compactness, and performance in a pharmacy setting, Futurian relied on high-quality RFID components from Cisper:
- CAEN Lepton3x4 RFID modules: Integrated into the checkout station for fast and precise item detection.
- Chainway C5 RFID handhelds: Used by staff for fast, Bluetooth-based inventory tracking and restocking.
Results: Faster, Safer, Smarter
Within just three months of operation, the Madrid pilot showed significant improvements:
- Most checkouts completed in under 30 seconds, even by first-time users.
- Zero staff intervention required during normal usage.
- High customer satisfaction, thanks to the clean, touchless process.
- Enhanced theft prevention, enabled by RFID-AM integration.
- Optimized inventory control, using handheld readers for real-time updates.
Outlook: Retail 4.0 for Pharmacies
With the system now commercially available, Futurian plans to expand Fast4shop to more pharmacies and retail locations. Combining RFID automation, anti-theft control, and a customer-first design, Fast4shop reduces friction while increasing visibility and operational efficiency.
“Fast4shop is the result of 2.5 years of R&D (2021–2024) and brings the pharmacy sector into Retail 4.0. It enables ‘more time for those who need assistance’, reduces waiting lines, increases customer satisfaction and turnover, and enables real-time inventory control. It’s the first RFID-AM* contactless checkout system—preventing cross-contamination and shaping a new paradigm for aseptic retail,” says Javier Ferrer Alós, CEO of Futurian.
* In traditional retail (especially pharmacies, cosmetics, and fashion), AM tags are used for anti-theft, while RFID tags handle inventory and checkout automation. By combining them:
- You get automated checkout via RFID
- And still prevent theft via AM tags that trigger alarms at exits if not deactivated
