Humans 1, Robots 0

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303492504579115310362925246.html

by petethomas • 13 years ago

12 10 13 years ago

online.wsj.com

deletes• 13 years ago

I think it could be done , but the cost of a machine(+code, +research) would greatly exceed any reasonable business plan, thus no one does it.

epaulson• 13 years ago

The killer is the machines insists on each item being bagged before moving on to the next item. If they'd just check the weight at the end the time difference wouldn't be that big of a deal.

I know the codes for most of the produce I buy, so that's usually not a problem for me on the items where the sticker's missing. For the ones I don't remember right away, the set of every item I've ever bought using a code is pretty small, and since I'm using a loyalty card and the machine knows who I am, it'd be nice if my frequent items were listed right at the top when I needed to use a code.

What I really want is a self-checkout app. For the times when I'm just picking up a handful of items, let me scan them as I'm going through the store. Again, they know who I am through the loyalty card. If there's some easy and fast way to weigh my bag on the way out or otherwise tell the store I'm done and leaving, I'd imagine the loss prevention concerns are minor compared to the repeat customer traffic it'd generate, as well as the ability to upsell me on other items.

jstedfast• 13 years ago

Stop & Shop have an Android app (and an iOS app?) so you can use your phone as a scanner.

The idea of putting your most common food items that require a code in a toplevel "menu" would be great, though. Maybe you should suggest that to someone (I just don't know who).

knappador• 13 years ago

It's a matter of time until RFID or other solutions are cost-effective enough that we just roll our shopping carts through the door and our wipe our NFC phones across a scanner. Faster still. NFC or some other technology as Apple is probably sandbagging on NFC until they can figure out a way to offer an NFC equivalent that requires lock-down opt-in by vendors and they charge for it. Good luck with that.

bcoates• 13 years ago

NFC seems like a solution in search of a problem to me. What does it accomplish that QR codes or any other optical scan technology doesn't?

eurleif• 13 years ago

The metro system in the DC area uses NFC (or something similar?) for its reloadable fare cards. I can just tap my wallet on the scanner, without having to take the card out. It's very convenient.

jiggy2011• 13 years ago

My experience is different, self checkout systems are improving all the time as the technology gets better and the humans adjust to using them.

The advantage is cost, I don't know the price but I imagine you can get a lot of self checkouts for the fully loaded cost of maintaining an around the clock roster for human staffing.

One of my local stores replaced 3 human checkouts with 1 human checkout + 5 self service in roughly the same amount of space. As a result queuing times have been reduced dramatically.

waterside81• 13 years ago

To me, self-checkouts are best as replacements for the express checkout lane. You've got a few things in your hands, probably don't even need a basket or cart, and just scan them through, and you're out. When doing a full shop, a person is preferrable.

meritt• 13 years ago

PLEASE PLACE ITEM IN THE BAGGING AREA.

6ren• 13 years ago

I far prefer self-checkout.

You can take coins, notes, and receipt separately (note have them all forced into your hand, to be awkwardly separated later). Paying by card would avoid this, but prefer to stay in touch with my expenditures.

I also find it kind of satisfying, like increasing skill at a game.

The only downside is that if you pause a moment, an over-eager attendant will push in front of you and start doing it for you - like you're an incompetent idiot and should be grateful for their "helpful" interference. I'm truly astounded at this rudeness, but it's becoming less common. It doesn't happen because they're busy and need you to hurry - it only happens when they've got nothing to do.

BTW: not all self-checkouts are equal. My local (Australia) Woolworths machines are frustrating, forcing you to click unnecessarily. The local Coles are much better - if you mute the annoying voice instructions. I expect there are still other versions elsewhere.

Also, article is correct that human checkout is faster - partly due to faster machine calibration. For a big shop, it's probably preferable.

Humans 1, Robots 0

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