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Walmart Is Planning a Store Without Cashiers (recode.net)
According to Recode, Walmart's startup incubator is experimenting with a cashier-less store concept called Project Kepler, which "aims to reimagine the in-store shopping experience with the help of technologies like computer vision." The goal is reportedly the "creation of physical stores that would operate without checkout lines or cashiers -- in a similar fashion to Amazon's futuristic Amazon Go store." From the report: The Project Kepler project focused on the future of in-store shopping is being led by Mike Hanrahan, the co-founder and former chief technology officer for Jet.com, multiple sources tell Recode. It is located in Hoboken, N.J., where Jet is based. A Project Kepler job listing for a "computer vision engineer" says that the role will involve creating a "best-in-class consumer experience in the physical retail space." Amazon's Go concept uses a combination of sensors and cameras to track what each store shopper takes off of shelves so it can automatically bill them for their purchase without their having to stop to pay on the way out. The store's launch has been severely delayed, however, with reports that the technology did not work well when the store was crowded. Walmart is envisioning a similar system that would potentially eliminate the need for cashiers in stores outfitted with the technology. Walmart has more than two million employees worldwide, many of whom work at checkout.
Combined with robotic stockers, a walmart store will probably bring under two dozen jobs while destroying many more jobs.
In theory, it's good because it lowers prices. But once no one has money left, lower prices don't matter.
And walmart closes shop and moves on to extract money from another economy.
I'm not against it. But we need to seriously slow down automation or our entire way of life/system of government is at risk of collapsing into an autocratic oligarchy.
She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
I rarely go in Walmart, but the last time I did I saw four self-checkouts and only two human cashiers. The rest of the checkouts were unused and the lines were really backed up. I didn't buy anything, just turned around and walked out.
The idea of customers checking out their own items is great in theory, but it just doesn't work that well most of the time.
I'll gladly stand in line to get money, but I'll be damned if I stand in line to give money. Want my business? Then make it convenient for me to shop in your store. That means hiring more (good) people and moving your ass a little faster.
Why don't you save yourself 15 minutes use the self checkout lane and give some homeless guy in the street $5 instead?
You're not supporting anything really. The shop will make it gradually less convenient for you to line up and the stuff will be reduced anyway. They see the cost benefit there already, and shoppers see the low shelf prices. All you're doing is punishing yourself for no gain.