Sainsbury’s boss apologises for IT meltdown that impacted hundreds

Sainsbury’s prime boss has apologised to consumers for the IT meltdown that left hundreds with out groceries yesterday.

The ‘technical situation’ created chaos on one of many busiest buying days of the week. The grocery chain cancelled on-line orders and could not settle for contactless funds – so consumers both had to make use of a bodily card or pay in money. 

Customers, who already confronted lengthy queues on the tills, have been compelled to desperately queue at close by ATMs, however many machines ran out of money because of the dramatic uptick in withdrawals. 

Today CEO Simon Roberts despatched an e-mail to all consumers confirming the ‘affected techniques are actually again on-line’ and shops proceed to be open and ‘totally operational’.

He apologised to ‘each buyer’ that was impacted by yesterday’s IT failure and revealed that any shopper whose on-line order was not delivered will obtain a voucher within the coming days in assist make up for the ‘inconvenience’.

Many loyal Sainsbury’s consumers turned to rival Tesco after being unable to finish their Saturday store, nevertheless the chain additionally skilled tech points yesterday and was compelled to cancel a small proportion of on-line orders. 

Sainsbury’s prime boss has apologised to consumers for the IT meltdown that left hundreds with out groceries yesterday. Customers are pictured ready in lengthy queues yesterday on the chain’s store in Wandsworth, south London amid tech difficulties

The grocery chain cancelled on-line orders and could not settle for contactless funds – so consumers both had to make use of a bodily card or pay in money. Pictured is a self-service until at a Sainsbury’s in London that would solely settle for money funds

Shoppers deserted their carts and baskets at a Sainsbury’s close to Richmond upon Thames yesterday because the grocery store chain battled an IT glitch impacting prospects’ skill to pay

‘I need to apologise to you and each buyer that has been affected by the problem and to thanks on your persistence and for bearing with us,’ Mr Roberts penned within the e-mail, which thanked prospects for his or her persistence ‘persistence and understanding’.

‘I actually perceive how necessary it’s for everybody to have the ability to store with us conveniently and simply, at any time when and nevertheless you need to, and I’m sorry if in case you have not acquired your ordinary service from Sainsbury’s this weekend.’

The CEO mentioned he’s ‘happy to substantiate’ that every one impacted techniques are functioning usually and that shops are accepting all types of in-store fee, together with contactless.

The on-line ordering system can also be ‘working as regular’ and prospects who didn’t obtain their supply yesterday can now place new orders with supply home windows ranging from tomorrow, he mentioned.

Mr Roberts additionally revealed that Sainsbury’s will ‘routinely’ add a voucher to the net pockets of impacted consumers to ‘apologise for the inconvenience’.

Sainsbury’s contact centre groups are reportedly working ‘working very laborious to do every thing they will to assist prospects who’ve been affected by the problem and want additional help’.

The boss added: ‘Thank you for bearing with us whereas we work to reply any particular questions you’ll have as quickly as attainable.’

He additional went on to reward all of the ‘colleagues who’ve labored so laborious to resolve this situation and assist our prospects’. Mr Roberts mentioned he’s ‘proud’ of how the staff ‘stepped up’ yesterday to managed the ‘sudden challenges’ prospects confronted.

A handwritten signal was positioned exterior a Sainsbury’s retailer in Cobham yesterday to tell prospects of the technical points affecting the grocery store chain

Two of the UK’s greatest grocery store chains – Tesco and Sainsbury’s – have been hit with technical points yesterday, inflicting outrage amongst consumers

Argos, which is owned by Sainsbury’s, was additionally affected by the software program replace, which means some prospects might have had points ordering new gadgets or gathering orders in-store. 

It mentioned there might have been delays in fulfilling orders positioned.

Only a small proportion of Tesco orders due for supply on Saturday have been impacted, it’s understood.

Tesco prospects acquired an e-mail if their order was disrupted, and if it was cancelled they weren’t charged.

In-store buying and putting orders on the app and web site aren’t believed to have been affected.

Tesco mentioned in an announcement yesterday: ‘The overwhelming majority of our on-line orders are being delivered as regular, however as a consequence of a technical situation earlier at the moment we’ve got needed to cancel a small variety of orders.

‘We are contacting affected prospects straight, and we’re actually sorry for the inconvenience.’