COVID-19 poses major challenges for businesses in Gwynedd and Anglesey. Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig (AGW) and Arloesi Môn are piloting new technology called StoreTally in several businesses across both counties to try and find possible solutions.
StoreTally is a Visitor Density Management product designed to give customers the confidence their health and safety matters during times of COVID-19. Created by a local company based in M-SParc in Gaerwen, the technology counts how many people enter and leave a premesis. Once capacity has been reached, it informs customers not to enter until others have left. The device is completley customisable with any number capacity possible, meaning it can be used at small or larger premises.
During this pilot AGW and Arloesi Môn have placed the technology at several different businesses. On Anglesey it has been placed at:
- Halen Môn
- Siop Ellis Llangefni
- Tafarn Y Rhos
- Holland Arms Garden Centre
- Foel Farm
And in Gwynedd it has been placed at:
- Fron Goch Garden Centre
- Spar Nefyn
- Spar Pwllheli
- Emrys House Beddgelert
- Siop Hosbis Dewi Sant Pwllheli
AGW and Arloesi Môn hope this will help relieve some of the pressures on businesses, and provide customers with extra reassurance. As this is a pilot, they will be learning how effective the technology is, and sharing this information with other businesses across both counties.
Rhian Hughes, Project Officer at AGW explained “AGW and Arloesi Môn are working hard to help reduce the impact COVID-19 is having on our economy and communities. Our hope for this pilot is to share what we’ve learnt with other businesses across Gwynedd and Anglesey so that they can also take advantage of this locally created technology.”
The fully bilingual technology has been in place for the last 4 weeks, and business owners taking part in the pilot are already seeing its benefit.
Rhys McLachlan-Evans, Manager at Holland Arms Garden Centre says “Before the technology a staff member was permanently at the door counting how many were coming in to the centre. But now with the technology I can see from my desk how many people are in, how many are in each section & keeping everyone safe.”
As well as helping the businesses, the hope is the technology will also help make customers feel safer and more comfortable.
Alison Lea-Wilson, Halen Môn Co-Founder explains “As a business we definitely feel safer since the StoreTally has been installed.”
The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It’s also part funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Gwynedd Council and the Isle of Anglesey Charitable Trust.