Overview:
“Customers want to be able to shop when, where, and how they want.”
The concept is pretty simple. Using the provided scanners or the Walmart Scan & Go app on your smartphone, just scan everything as you put it in the cart. The app maintains a running total of the items in your cart. You can simply click a button to pay for your goods right from the app, and you’re done. Well, almost. You do still have to have a Walmart employee verify the receipt on your smartphone and clear you before you can leave.
It quickly detected and identified the bar code and added the item to my cart. If you buy more than one of the same thing you can choose to scan each one individually, or you can just adjust the quantity in the cart after you scan the first one. A Walmart employee explained that they conduct random periodic checks of customers to keep people honest, and suggested that there may be some customer profiling going on as well. Walmart will also perform a more thorough check if you try to purchase any alcohol or age-restricted items like spray paint using the Scan & Go.
Analysis:
This system Walmart has put in place in 3 stores around the world has been an interesting concept and could push for other stores to adopt similar technologies to modernize the shopping experience and welcome the high-tech future of retail. I think this system still has some physical flaws when it comes to human honesty and prejudice but it does allow for a more efficient way of shopping quickly, saves money, and eliminates your time spent in the store that allows shoppers to fit it into their personal schedules.
