'It hasn't delivered': The spectacular failure of self-checkout technology
'It hasn't delivered': The spectacular failure of self-checkout technology
Unstaffed tills were supposed to revolutionise shopping. Now, both retailers and customers are bagging many self-checkout kiosks.
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Self-checkout systems are already old fashioned. Most stores in my town have apps for that now, where customers scan items as they bag them in their own bags while walking through the store and then just beep out. This removes the need for a queue, the payment terminal, the receipt and the stupid exit gate. Customers are allegedly randomly checked, but I've never seen that.
I've used one of the "just walk out" Amazon Fresh stores.
I show a QR code in my phone's Amazon app to open the entry gate, then just load things into my bags in my cart. Then I scan the QR again to use the exit gate and go home.
It's amazingly efficient, bus also terrifying that it can track so well.
My family members just enter through the gate with me, no need to scan them in separately or register them in any way.
It can track the whole family even when we spilt up to shop separately.
How are they tracking? I know it can easily be done with NFC tags, but I doubt they tag fresh produce like that?
It's all cameras and ML face recognition.
I wonder how many people are needed to operate the system, and if the camera detection is really just an employee in an Asian call center.
I wouldn't like having to carry a compatible smartphone AND having my purchases thoroughly tracked like that.
FYI, your purchases are already thoroughly tracked like that starting as soon as you walk in the store, app or not.