Snooper app enabling Australians to make money just by doing their shopping

A trip to the grocery store can be costly but some Australians have found a way to make money while doing it.

Brisbane woman Kylie Milligan says she's made thousands this year alone.

"I've probably earnt this year about $8000," she said.

Using just the camera on her phone, Ms Milligan is turning her shopping into a lucrative second income.

She's making her money using an online app which pays her to take photos of a store's products, prices or signage.

"(You) just click on the mission on your app and then you go and take one or two photos," she said.

"If I'm going to get petrol in the morning there might be some at the petrol station, if I'm having my lunch and going to go to the bakery, there's missions in the bakery."

Thousands of other Australians are doing the same using a crowdsourcing platform called "Snooper".

It also enables retailers and big brands like Coca Cola and Kellogs to collect real-time data.

"The objective is really to bring visibility to brands and retailers about what's happening in store," Laurie Wespes, Snooper co-founder, said.

"Poor promotion, poor execution or wrong shelf layout can a have a huge impact on sales."

Each mission completed is worth between $5 and $10.

The information is particularly valuable amid the coronavirus crisis which has placed stores under increased pressure to keep up with customer demand.

Snooper recently teamed up with Singapore-based retail technology company Trax Retail, which will see further big brands using the service.

"There will be more missions on the Snooper app so that means more cash opportunities," Ms Wespes said.

"It's so convenient you don't really have to go out of your way to do it," Ms Milligan added.