Technical glitches disrupt payment systems at Greggs outlets nationwide, highlighting the challenges of an increasingly digitized retail landscape.
Greggs bakeries encountered a technical hiccup across its UK outlets, affecting payment systems and resulting in temporary closures and payment restrictions. The issue, reportedly resolved as of the latest updates, affected stores in various cities including London, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham. Customers faced inconveniences as some locations could only accept cash or orders made through the Greggs mobile app.
The bakery chain, which operates over 2,450 shops nationwide, issued apologies for the disruption. This incident is part of a series of recent IT outages among UK retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and McDonald’s, which similarly affected payment operations and online deliveries. These incidents have been swiftly addressed, with companies apologizing to their customers.
This series of technical glitches has sparked discussions on the reliance on digital payment systems and the implications of moving towards a cashless society. Experts, including Jenni Matthews of MRI Software and Andrew Martin, founder of SMEB, emphasized the importance of having robust backup systems and the continued relevance of cash transactions. Meanwhile, cyber security consultant Adam Pilton highlighted the need for heightened preparedness against potential cyber threats, underscoring the dependence on technology in both personal and business transactions.
The resolution of the IT issues at Greggs and other retailers underlines the challenges and considerations of an increasingly digital payment landscape in the UK’s retail sector.