Microsoft is Working on Technology That Would Eliminate Cashiers and Checkout Lines From Stores, Says Report (reuters.com)

Microsoft is working on technology that would eliminate cashiers and checkout lines from stores, in a nascent challenge to Amazon.com's automated grocery shop, Reuters reported, citing six people familiar with the matter. From the report: The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant is developing systems that track what shoppers add to their carts, the people say. Microsoft has shown sample technology to retailers from around the world and has had talks with Walmart about a potential collaboration, three of the people said. Microsoft's technology aims to help retailers keep pace with Amazon Go, a highly automated store that opened to the public in Seattle in January. Amazon customers scan their smartphones at a turnstile to enter. Cameras and sensors identify what they remove from the shelves. When customers are finished shopping, they simply leave the store and Amazon bills their credit cards on file. Amazon Go, which will soon open in Chicago and San Francisco, has sent rivals scrambling to prepare for yet another disruption by the world's biggest online retailer. Some have tested programs where customers scan and bag each item as they shop, with mixed results.

Comments

Microsoft Is NOT Getting My Shopping Data

[dryriver]

I don't know who Microsoft think they are. First the murky telemetry in Windows 10 that cannot be switched off. Then Microsoft Office becomes a cloud only tool. Next, Microsoft's CEO is pushing all sorts of "YOU OWN NOTHING" cloud crap - your games, apps, software all go cloud-only. And now I go to a bricks-and-mortar store and Microshaft of all companies tracks what I'm putting in my shopping cart? F you, Microsoft. Privacy invaders. Data thieves. Conscience free arm-twisters. Cleptomaniacs. I am not shopping at ANY store that has the Microsoft system in it.

Re:Microsoft Is NOT Getting My Shopping Data

[XxtraLarGe]

Microsoft is not in the business of data mining. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, all ISP's, and all credit card companies are. You don't know what you're talking about.

So all those ads they have on Bing are just served up at random? Pro-Tip: Everyone is data mining.

Re:Microsoft Is NOT Getting My Shopping Data

[Solandri]

I own my own domain so I can create my own email addresses. I assign every company I deal with its own forwarding email address. So for example, I sign up for Microsoft services using microsoft@mydomain.com. Banks, online shopping sites, topical forums requiring an email address, services like Roku and Plex, etc. - they each get their own email address. I'm at over 700 different email address now. 700+ different companies I've signed up for services with over 15 years. The vast majority of them adhere to their privacy policy promising not to sell my email address to marketers.

The two notable exceptions are Microsoft and Adobe. I began receiving spam at both of the email addresses I'd assigned to them. The Adobe one began getting spam shortly after they were hacked, so I suspect they didn't sell me out (at least not deliberately). The Microsoft email however got several waves of spam, about 4-12 months apart, indicating it was continuously being sold. It's remained quiet the last few years, but after my past spam experience with them I've been assiduously avoiding signing up for anything with Microsoft (e.g. all my Win 10 accounts are local accounts).

Make of that what you will.

Greed doing what Greed does best.

[geekmux]

Cashiers rank among the top jobs in the US by numbers employed. Is Microsoft also working on technology that will eliminate the problems they're planning on creating when they make millions of jobs obsolete? Not to mention the fact that a lot of consumer spending and business revenue depends on millions of people being employable.

Once again, Greed is doing what Greed does best; doing whatever it takes to create revenue quickly without giving two shits about any long term impact.

I pay with cash

[DogDude]

I pay for things with cash. If a business doesn't take cash, they don't get my business.

Re:Apple already tried/did this

[AmiMoJo]

We have had it in the UK for at least a decade. A supermarket called Waitrose allows you to take a hand scanner and scan your stuff as you put it in your trolley. They are still doing it so the fraud must be at an acceptable level, as with self-service checkouts.

Re:And cash is handled... how?

[Kulahan]

I was curious about the legality of refusing all cash payments, so I did a little research.

Apparently, so long as the policy is stated *before* any debts are incurred, any business may set any monetary policy it desires. That's why it's legal to say things like "no bills larger than $20" or whatever. The only time this isn't the case is if there's a state law in place that requires businesses to accept cash or something along those lines.

The more you know, I guess

Re: And cash is handled... how?

[ArhcAngel]

You are a minority. And one banks and government would like to eradicate. There has been a concerted effort for the last 20 years if not longer to eliminate physical cash. If you search "war on cash" you'll find an abundance of articles over the years on it. There are numerous reasons for this. First, the government wants to know your every move and tracking your spending is one of the easiest ways to do this. They say it's to root out illicit activity but who's to say HOW they actually use it? Second, if you have physical cash you don't need a bank. You can transact directly with anyone without a bank getting a percentage of the transaction like they do when you use a credit/debit card. It's also why banks and governments are fighting blockchain currency tooth and nail as it is digital but it removes the two reasons they wanted to go digital in the first place.

Sams' Club leading the way

[jmcwork]

I am not sure I understand how this would be different from the Sam's Club 'Scan and Go' app I used the other day. I scanned each item (who really needs a 2 gallon jar of mayo??) and put it in my cart. When I was done, I told it to pay with my credit card and it generated a upc code and a receipt. The person at the door looked at the receipt, scanned the code and I was gone. No waiting in line. Yes, there is the risk of putting an item in you cart without scanning. I would assume that if you are buying an iPad or other expensive item (that could possibly be hidden) they would do something like 'Hey, let me scan that for you to make sure it comes up with the correct price."