Walmart have been trialling a mobile app in 200 stores which allows you to scan products while you shop, bag them after you scan them, and then pay at the end of the visit without having to ring up the items again at the point of sale. The customer does all the scanning during your trip, then at a self-checkout they pay which involves scanning a QR code and then choosing your payment method. Not yet a total success, Walmart are said to be working hard to optimise the experience to make it a real success. Perhaps having to pay up at the till doesn’t mean you really save any time.
Several other US grocers have actively rolling out or expanding scan & go technology this year and these include:
- Kroger: Kroger expanded its “Scan, Bag, Go” system in 2014, increasing the number of stores offering this technology. Customers used handheld scanners or mobile apps to scan and bag items as they shopped, then paid at self-checkout stations.
- Target: Target piloted a scan & go system in several locations in 2014. The technology allowed customers to use mobile devices to scan products as they shopped, aiming to streamline the checkout process and improve efficiency.
- Meijer: Meijer expanded its “Shop & Scan” technology in 2014. This system enabled customers to use handheld scanners or their smartphones to scan items, bag them as they shopped, and check out quickly at dedicated self-service kiosks.
These examples reflect the broader trend of US retailers adopting and expanding scan & go technology to enhance customer convenience and improve the efficiency of the shopping experience.
