French supermarket chain Auchan has teamed with Digicash Payments and BGL BNP Paribas to launch a new point-of-sale transaction method that combines mobile payments and loyalty.

The system enables users to pay with their smartphone using their bank's Digicash app and to link it to their Auchan loyalty card, according to a press release. Shoppers no longer need to show their Auchan card at the till to earn euros. By paying with Digicash, rewards are automatically transferred to the account, reducing the time spent at the till and the number of actions required, according to the announcement.

To offer this new payment option to customers, Digicash beacons have been installed at the megastore's tills, enabling contactless mobile payments to be made using Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC technology.

"This fantastic technological step forward means that we can consider using other applications linked to our business activity with the aim of improving the quality of service and making shopping more enjoyable for our customers," Marc Gueuzurian, Auchan Kirchberg megastore director, said in a statement.

Auchan will test the service at its Luxembourg locations first, according to the announcement.