'It hasn't delivered': The spectacular failure of #selfcheckout technology
When self-checkout at stores was rolled out, many people cheered. No longer would they have to wait behind the senior citizen who couldn't remember the PIN for their debit card. No longer would they have to wait in long lines trying to ignore the idle chitchat from fellow shoppers. From now on it would be a breeze to get in and get out without human interaction. Except that hasn't happened. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240111-it-hasnt-delivered-the-spectacular-failure-of-self-checkout-technology
According to a new report by the BBC, self-checkouts have been a failure. It's not just because they take jobs from humans; customers frequently need help to use them, and retailers say they lead to increased theft. Some stores are moving away from the technology, but a 2021 survey of 1,000 American shoppers say they prefer it. Here's the full story. What's your opinion?
When retailers added self-checkout the expectation was that it would save them money by offloading work to customers.
In practice they now have to worry about theft and or helping customers with ID checks for booze. Many now consider it a wash.
I honestly wonder if a similar thing will happen with adoption of generative AI. Will some businesses find it takes just as much or more work to review the output of AIs than to just have humans do it?
@carnage4life The supermarket checkouts used by Coop and ICA here in Sweden use a different system with charged handheld scanning devices you pick up when entering.
These allow you to pack groceries directly into your own bags in the store. When checking out only a % of customers get screened which is handled by staff so you only have to wait. These are much faster than both weighing & normal checkouts.
The awful fad of self-checkout machines in supermarkets may be coming to an end. Looks like supermarkets in other countries are starting to realise that customer service matters, and I hope the same happens here in Australia.
Supermarkets should pay their workers to operate checkouts instead of trying to cheap-out and get customers to do their job for them.
For the last few years, supermarkets have been trying to reduce their expenses by cutting staff, and recently have also been blaming customers for shoplifting. No, we're just sick of you treating your staff badly, price-gouging, and treating customers like criminals.
「 Prompts to leave 20% at self-checkout machines at airports, stadiums, cookie shops and cafes across the country are rankling consumers already inundated by the proliferation of tip screens. Business owners say the automated cues can significantly increase gratuities and boost staff pay. But the unmanned prompts are leading more customers to question what, exactly, the tips are for 」
— @WSJ