We Brits love a good queue, whether it’s at the bar, to pay for goods or to enter an even, The Great British Queueing system is just part of our culture, but could it be on its way out?

Recent research shows that 25% of British retailers plan to scrap in-store queues by 2021 with mobile payments being the preferred alternative. The new technology which allows customers to pay for goods via their mobile devices is still in its infancy but has shown promise in early trials.

There are several examples where British retailers are using technology to make the shopping experience easier. Waitrose, for example, has a hand-held scanning system that allows shoppers to upload their lists and leads them to the items they need. Clothing retailer Zara has employed the use of smart tags on their clothing to let staff find pieces easily.

Customers will benefit from a smart system approach with reduced wait times and increased efficiency when looking for goods. On the other hand, retailers will reap the rewards in money saved from the reduced need for staff in stores. The technology could have obvious implications on other industries too where queues are an issue.

A future without queuing could be a very real possibility. At least us Brits will still have the weather to discuss though to maintain our cultural identity.