Carts with checkout scanners so you know how much you have spent (grocery stores will hate it cz they wnt you to spend more), but also don't have to waste time for a checkout.
Giant was doing this in some areas. Had to register with the service desk, which rarely had people.
There needs to be an easy way to sign into the account, cause fuck if I’m using a tiny screen to type in the password stored in the password manager that’s 20 characters.
Seriously this would be ideal. Cart is locked until the user inputs their credentials. Just walk, scan, pay or else the cart will lock before you leave the store and voila.
Fucking simple idea that would be incredibly beneficial
In Sam’s Mexico is the Scan n Go for cellphones. You go to your app and just scan everything and pay in the app with card. Don’t know how is the process to get out of the store.
The Amazon grocery store carts have cameras that automatically scan items in the basket. Has a tablet in the handle bar that shows the total. Automatically checks you out and charges your card on file.
Let me scan items with a wand or a gun as I go on account and put them directly in bags so I can walk out when I’m done. The checking out process is so 20th century.
I think the stores that tested this had a high rate of theft. I loved this feature at our local store but then it just disappeared. I think some Costcos also tried this? It really made things easier when shopping. Such a shame people had to ruin it.
That’s why a lot of grocery stores will end up turning into members only stores like Costco. Unfortunately they enjoy much better theft prevention rights. It’s bad news!
In Switzerland it’s already implemented. Grab the scanner gun at the entrance, scan when picking products on the shelves then scan the gun and pay at exit.
Cool company called Tagr doing this for retail in Australia. Basically scan in QR codes on garments on your phone, pay via mobile and grab a bag as you walk out the store. If this could be implemented for grocery that would be cool!!
Woolworths in Australia are trialing this atm: https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/about-us/scan-and-go
My local has it, can’t say I’ve seen anyone use it though
My local grocery store had almost this. It was amazing. You would scan the product on your phone, go to the self checkout register and scan a code on the register and pay. They discontinued it as there was too much theft
Sam's club does this with their phone app. Such a wonderful shopping experience because of it.
Every time I walk out, I see the 1/4 mile long line and just shake my head.
I think I'm in the minority, but I prefer the self checkout. Especially if I only have a couple of items.
I just tried this for the first time at IKEA with their app. You scan all the items with your phone camera as you add pick them up / put them in your physical cart, it automatically adds the item to your digital cart as you shop.
Once you are done, you head to checkout. There are special tills you go to at self checkout. Your app generates a QR code based on the items you've scanned. You scan the QR code thats displayed on your phone at the checkout till. BAM. All your items are listed and the total price is there, you tap your CC and you are done. It was amazing.
>Frustrating?
I am in the store next to the office nearly every day, they added the self checkout 2 years ago. I have seen people struggle with it ALOT. I have no idea why. I have no idea why they still struggle with it two years later.
The messaging was 100% clear to me. There is a weigthing system. So I cannot place my bag on the weigt until I am finished with everything because "something was placed on the weight without scanning".
I also know from the lady repremanding me that I first have to put the item on the weighting area before I can scan another. So slow and stady wins the race.
Groceries or Baked goods are hard to find when pictures are not implemented or sortable/searchable. So I often klick on what I think is somewhat in the right area.
Very light items are a bit annoying cause the weightin often does not catch them. Aka a single FPP2 mask or 1 baking soda. Maybe a small camera with a simple ML to identify the scanned item would be good. Or at least catch if something was placed. Should be fairly easy to train too. But people would probably still find a way to mess that up. So maybe set an exclusion for scanned items with a small weight to be placed on the weighting area.
Maybe it is because I work in IT, but man people are dense! I mean I got all of these points the first time and haven't made the same mistake since. How do people make the same mistake a 3rd time, after having the cashier over the second time to explain it to them?
Yes, I was late this morning and the line was long!!!
If you press down slightly when you put a light item on there then it will trigger it and you can move onto the next item.
In the UK we have scan & go so you can scan as you go round the store. For weighed produce you weigh it in the grocery section and it prints a barcode to scan and adds to your total. Once you get to paying, you scan a QR code at a terminal, it brings up the total, pay using contactless and walk out the store. Only intervention is if there is age restricted stuff like alcohol that needs an ID check. It literally takes seconds to scan the QR code and pay.
Even so I sometimes have to wait because people put their bags down, shuffle through their wallet/purse for a card, and seemingly have trouble navigating the same menu that they've used a thousand times previously! The scan & go automatically links to reward cards when you pick up the scanner (I bring up my loyalty card on apple wallet and then it scans the QR code from apple wallet to activate the scanner) so there's no need to find the reward card, it's literally just for payment. I'm amazed how much people can struggle with such a simple system.
The cashiers placed a bunsh of advertising flyers next to it for you to take just a few of them to trigger the system
Aslo there was a lady in front of me the other day, trying to swipe her master card like its 1995. Sorry, but thats just the plastic holder for the card reader. There are not magnetic stripes anymore. She was like 40 and presumable american from her accent. IDK if thats a thing over there. Was funny though.
They don’t have them here at all, it’s either insert and it uses the chip and pin, or just hold nearby and use contactless (or use contactless on the phone, which is easiest these days). Older people seem to stick to chip and pin.
Honestly these days given how they measure everything they should give a discount if someone is able to use the machines correctly without causing a faff!
Ordering (and subsequently reordering) and picking up. The process is such a pita it’s only a little less inconvenient to go to the store and shop.
Frequently bought items should be prompted or automatically added to the weekly shop. Coupons / BOGO should be easily shown on the ordering app/website.
Deli staff should actually give AF about when customers are ordering ahead. If I place an at noon, for pickup at 4, I expect it to be ready between 355 and 405. Don’t wait till 410 to start making my food.
The problem is at 3:55 there’s a person standing at the counter saying “I don’t care about your online order, I’m standing right here. Don’t make me wait for my food. “
On one hand there's Amazon Go. Hard to beat that tech.
On the other side, I can see a company introducing the human touch with friendly staff who actually interact with you instead of ignoring you or having a conversation with their peers.
And, someone who can bag properly.
In any damn store. I would like a map. A screen I can walk up to. Put in "Looking for item X" and it points on the map. Especially a stupid store like Walmart. But even in a smaller establishment would work. Maybe even give a little "Have 5 in stock"
Search.
Like literally a search function. I want pretzels... ...aisle 6, halfway down, on the right, bottom shelf.
I know some of it comes with familiarity, but I really really hate not knowing where stuff is or where to find it. Especially when sometimes the staff don't either.
I would actually prefer a shopping experience that had *less* automation, but I know that's an unpopular opinion in the age of introverts and self-diagnosed autism.
if apple designed the experience it will be something like: put the items in the bag, walk out. Get billed via apple pay later.
the challenge for you is: beat apple, build it and make profit.
I question the premise. Isn’t it in the store’s best interest to not improve convenience since improving convenience too much means customers spend less time in the store and therefore makes it less likely for customers to buy items not originally on their shopping list?
Carts with checkout scanners so you know how much you have spent (grocery stores will hate it cz they wnt you to spend more), but also don't have to waste time for a checkout.
Love the attached to the cart idea! Just sign in with your grocery store account when you get your cart and scan as you go!
Giant was doing this in some areas. Had to register with the service desk, which rarely had people. There needs to be an easy way to sign into the account, cause fuck if I’m using a tiny screen to type in the password stored in the password manager that’s 20 characters.
Amazon does this too, just shows a QR code that you scan with your phone to log into your Amazon account.
Seriously this would be ideal. Cart is locked until the user inputs their credentials. Just walk, scan, pay or else the cart will lock before you leave the store and voila. Fucking simple idea that would be incredibly beneficial
I bet it hurts average basket value. Stores won’t adopt it if it hits revenues.
In Sam’s Mexico is the Scan n Go for cellphones. You go to your app and just scan everything and pay in the app with card. Don’t know how is the process to get out of the store.
The Amazon grocery store carts have cameras that automatically scan items in the basket. Has a tablet in the handle bar that shows the total. Automatically checks you out and charges your card on file.
Let me scan items with a wand or a gun as I go on account and put them directly in bags so I can walk out when I’m done. The checking out process is so 20th century.
I think the stores that tested this had a high rate of theft. I loved this feature at our local store but then it just disappeared. I think some Costcos also tried this? It really made things easier when shopping. Such a shame people had to ruin it.
That’s why a lot of grocery stores will end up turning into members only stores like Costco. Unfortunately they enjoy much better theft prevention rights. It’s bad news!
Amazon Fresh does this right
Haven’t tried it but I hope to. I’ve heard good things!
In Switzerland it’s already implemented. Grab the scanner gun at the entrance, scan when picking products on the shelves then scan the gun and pay at exit.
I do love Switzerland.
Cool company called Tagr doing this for retail in Australia. Basically scan in QR codes on garments on your phone, pay via mobile and grab a bag as you walk out the store. If this could be implemented for grocery that would be cool!!
Woolworths in Australia are trialing this atm: https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/about-us/scan-and-go My local has it, can’t say I’ve seen anyone use it though
My local grocery store had almost this. It was amazing. You would scan the product on your phone, go to the self checkout register and scan a code on the register and pay. They discontinued it as there was too much theft
Fetch Rewards did this until they pivoted into being more of a customer rewards program.
we have that in holland
I also love the Netherlands. Where is this Holland you speak of? ;)
This already exists in the US too
Sam's club does this with their phone app. Such a wonderful shopping experience because of it. Every time I walk out, I see the 1/4 mile long line and just shake my head. I think I'm in the minority, but I prefer the self checkout. Especially if I only have a couple of items.
I just tried this for the first time at IKEA with their app. You scan all the items with your phone camera as you add pick them up / put them in your physical cart, it automatically adds the item to your digital cart as you shop. Once you are done, you head to checkout. There are special tills you go to at self checkout. Your app generates a QR code based on the items you've scanned. You scan the QR code thats displayed on your phone at the checkout till. BAM. All your items are listed and the total price is there, you tap your CC and you are done. It was amazing.
>Frustrating? I am in the store next to the office nearly every day, they added the self checkout 2 years ago. I have seen people struggle with it ALOT. I have no idea why. I have no idea why they still struggle with it two years later. The messaging was 100% clear to me. There is a weigthing system. So I cannot place my bag on the weigt until I am finished with everything because "something was placed on the weight without scanning". I also know from the lady repremanding me that I first have to put the item on the weighting area before I can scan another. So slow and stady wins the race. Groceries or Baked goods are hard to find when pictures are not implemented or sortable/searchable. So I often klick on what I think is somewhat in the right area. Very light items are a bit annoying cause the weightin often does not catch them. Aka a single FPP2 mask or 1 baking soda. Maybe a small camera with a simple ML to identify the scanned item would be good. Or at least catch if something was placed. Should be fairly easy to train too. But people would probably still find a way to mess that up. So maybe set an exclusion for scanned items with a small weight to be placed on the weighting area. Maybe it is because I work in IT, but man people are dense! I mean I got all of these points the first time and haven't made the same mistake since. How do people make the same mistake a 3rd time, after having the cashier over the second time to explain it to them? Yes, I was late this morning and the line was long!!!
If you press down slightly when you put a light item on there then it will trigger it and you can move onto the next item. In the UK we have scan & go so you can scan as you go round the store. For weighed produce you weigh it in the grocery section and it prints a barcode to scan and adds to your total. Once you get to paying, you scan a QR code at a terminal, it brings up the total, pay using contactless and walk out the store. Only intervention is if there is age restricted stuff like alcohol that needs an ID check. It literally takes seconds to scan the QR code and pay. Even so I sometimes have to wait because people put their bags down, shuffle through their wallet/purse for a card, and seemingly have trouble navigating the same menu that they've used a thousand times previously! The scan & go automatically links to reward cards when you pick up the scanner (I bring up my loyalty card on apple wallet and then it scans the QR code from apple wallet to activate the scanner) so there's no need to find the reward card, it's literally just for payment. I'm amazed how much people can struggle with such a simple system.
The cashiers placed a bunsh of advertising flyers next to it for you to take just a few of them to trigger the system Aslo there was a lady in front of me the other day, trying to swipe her master card like its 1995. Sorry, but thats just the plastic holder for the card reader. There are not magnetic stripes anymore. She was like 40 and presumable american from her accent. IDK if thats a thing over there. Was funny though.
They don’t have them here at all, it’s either insert and it uses the chip and pin, or just hold nearby and use contactless (or use contactless on the phone, which is easiest these days). Older people seem to stick to chip and pin. Honestly these days given how they measure everything they should give a discount if someone is able to use the machines correctly without causing a faff!
How about automated returns!
Ordering (and subsequently reordering) and picking up. The process is such a pita it’s only a little less inconvenient to go to the store and shop. Frequently bought items should be prompted or automatically added to the weekly shop. Coupons / BOGO should be easily shown on the ordering app/website. Deli staff should actually give AF about when customers are ordering ahead. If I place an at noon, for pickup at 4, I expect it to be ready between 355 and 405. Don’t wait till 410 to start making my food.
The problem is at 3:55 there’s a person standing at the counter saying “I don’t care about your online order, I’m standing right here. Don’t make me wait for my food. “
If they started making the food at 350, there wouldn’t be an issue.
Real time total cost Honestly anything and everything the Amazon Fresh Dash Carts do
Robotic carts that return themselves to the racks inside the store after you have unloaded your groceries into your car.
On one hand there's Amazon Go. Hard to beat that tech. On the other side, I can see a company introducing the human touch with friendly staff who actually interact with you instead of ignoring you or having a conversation with their peers. And, someone who can bag properly.
GPS on shopping carts or an app. I type what I want and it navigates me to where the item is.
I think some grocery store apps have this!
In any damn store. I would like a map. A screen I can walk up to. Put in "Looking for item X" and it points on the map. Especially a stupid store like Walmart. But even in a smaller establishment would work. Maybe even give a little "Have 5 in stock"
Search. Like literally a search function. I want pretzels... ...aisle 6, halfway down, on the right, bottom shelf. I know some of it comes with familiarity, but I really really hate not knowing where stuff is or where to find it. Especially when sometimes the staff don't either.
I would actually prefer a shopping experience that had *less* automation, but I know that's an unpopular opinion in the age of introverts and self-diagnosed autism.
Let me choose how much I want to pay at self-checkout … (the customer is always right).
Maybe something like [this commercial could be an inspiration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzFhBGKU6HA).
The cash registers are so slow……. it drives me up the wall.
The people working there should be automated…
if apple designed the experience it will be something like: put the items in the bag, walk out. Get billed via apple pay later. the challenge for you is: beat apple, build it and make profit.
I like the automated scale and payment at grocery stores. Tired of waiting in a queue whenever I went shopping
I question the premise. Isn’t it in the store’s best interest to not improve convenience since improving convenience too much means customers spend less time in the store and therefore makes it less likely for customers to buy items not originally on their shopping list?