No one likes going to the store to grab some last minute items for dinner then getting suck in a long line waiting to check out. Businesses are currently working to make a change so that doesn't happen anymore. In 2005 it was estimated that in North America $4.5 billion would be invested in technology to make improvements in your shopping experience.
Ever imagine a store that you could just walk out of without having to stand in line to purchase your mountain of items? Well it's not only in your imagination anymore. Part of that $4.5 billion could be going to hand held scanners. These would be scanners that you have in your cart and you scan the items as you put them into your cart. upon completion on shopping you chose the 'end of trip' option then proceed to a self check out where all you will need to do is pay. No more hassle of unloading your cart just to load it again.
A possibly even faster option could be a finger print payment. All you have to do is sign up for it, scan your finger so that the system remembers it and register your account number. Then when you get to the check out, just press your finger print onto a screen.
Now imagine those two paired together. Soon enough this is how you will be shopping at your local grocery store.
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I had to comment on your post seeing that I work in a grocery store. I can't imagine the hassle that RFID and hand scanners will get rid of going to the checkout. We have seen big technology changes in the store already, such as u-scans, fasttap technology, and theft is minimized by magnets in products. I'll bet we'll see a major change in another five years.
ReplyDeleteMy parents are from Sweden and we go back to visit our family ever year. Some of their bigger stores there have them. It's available to the customers who have membership with the stores. The only downside with the system they have set up there, is that the store will randomly make you go through the counter to make sure you aren't trying to steal anything and that you've scanned everything. This delay can add unwanted time to your shopping experience that you haven't planned on.
ReplyDeleteI heard that there are cell phones that carry your information with you wherever you go. This means that when you are grocery shopping you merely have to have your phone with you. When you walk through the line you just push your cart through the line and the UPC on the product will register your purchases and automatically charge them to the information on your phone. Whether or not this is true I am unsure, but if it is it could drastically change the grocery experience.
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