When Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) came out with its plan to eliminate the need for cashiers with its scan-and-go technology, it seemed like a win for everyone: the company would generate cost savings and customers would be able to avoid having to deal with the whole checkout process.
The one problem that Walmart wasn’t anticipating: that customers wouldn’t go for the idea. Walmart has indeed scrapped its scan-and-go technology and blamed a low adoption rate by consumers as the main reason for the company opting to go a different route.
From the customer’s point of view it might seem like a hefty trade to have to scan your purchases yourself just to avoid a cashier from doing it for you. Some customers probably even like the chit chat involved with the checkout process, while others might just prefer self-checkout lanes, which should in theory already expedite the process.
Instead, Walmart will now be having associates scan items for customers and will be testing the new process in its garden center locations. Customers will still be able to avoid a cashier and this time won’t have to do the work themselves. I’m not sure how practical this will be for shoppers that have a buggy full of purchases, but it seems Walmart seems committed to finding a way to cut out the need for cashiers.
With online competition from giants like Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) continuing to push Walmart and other retailers towards as much efficiency as possible, the race to the bottom continues to get more intense.
