In a groundbreaking move, Walmart is significantly enhancing its self-checkout experience by introducing innovative invisible barcode technology.
This huge company has teamed up with Digimarc to implement this cutting-edge technology, as noted by El Adelantado. This new system embeds invisible barcodes throughout the whole surface of product packaging.
What does this change at Walmart mean?
This means that customers can now effortlessly scan items from any angle, eliminating the frustrating search for traditional barcodes.
- The invisible barcodes are printed across the product packaging.
- Advanced scanners installed in the self-checkout machines read these barcodes.
- Customers can scan multiple items simultaneously as the scanner automatically detects the invisible codes.
With this transformation, as shoppers glide their items over the scanner, the machine seamlessly identifies and registers each product, streamlining the checkout process like never before.
This innovative system is designed with a dual purpose in mind: enhancing customer comfort and curbing theft. Gone are the days of struggling with tricky barcodes or the annoyance of unresponsive scanners. Now, shoppers can simply glide their products near the scanner, which intuitively detects the barcode, no matter how the item is oriented.
Revolutionizing Self-Checkout Experience
Walmart’s new self-checkout technology is a game changer, offering seamless transactions and a user-friendly experience. This advancement not only makes shopping faster and more efficient but also addresses the pressing issue of retail theft.
Tackling Retail Theft
Theft at self-checkout lanes has been a growing concern for retailers. With this enhanced system, it becomes considerably harder for customers to sneak an item past the scanner unnoticed. The statistics are alarming: in 2022, U.S. retailers suffered losses amounting to a staggering $112.1 billion due to theft, a significant increase from the $93.9 billion reported in 2021.
- Improved Detection: The advanced scanners automatically recognize barcodes, minimizing the chance of human error or intentional skipping.
- Enhanced Security: The system’s design makes it difficult for anyone to bypass scanning items without triggering an alert.
- Customer Convenience: Quick and hassle-free checkout, reducing time spent fumbling with items.
The introduction of this technology underscores Walmart’s commitment to a more secure and efficient shopping environment, reflecting a broader industry trend toward innovation in retail spaces.
Walmart is grappling with an astounding $3 billion in annual losses due to theft at self-checkout kiosks. In a strategic move to reclaim these losses, the retail giant is channeling $3 million each year into cutting-edge technology. Although this innovation is still undergoing trials in select stores, the initial results are quite promising.
The Challenge of Shoplifting
Initially, Walmart’s self-checkout involved a simple process: an associate would verify a customer’s receipt at the exit to ensure the items matched their purchases. But as shoplifters grew more cunning, using old or fake receipts, Walmart responded by introducing a receipt-scanning device. This system checks if items were bought within the last five hours at that specific location, aiming to catch and deter shoplifters.
According to Christopher Andrews, an associate professor and chair of sociology at Drew University and the author of “The Overworked Consumer: Self-Checkouts, Supermarkets, and the Do-It-Yourself Economy,” the self-checkout has yet to fulfill its promises, as reported by the BBC.
In the evolving landscape of retail, Prof Andrews remarked, “Stores viewed self-checkout as the next frontier. If they could convince consumers that this was the preferable way to shop, they could significantly reduce labor costs. However, they’ve discovered that customers often require assistance, or worse, take advantage of the system to steal items. Instead of saving money, these stores are actually incurring losses.”
Innovative Measures to Combat Theft
In response to these challenges, Walmart has begun implementing innovative solutions to combat self-checkout theft. One such measure includes the introduction of invisible barcodes on many products. This technology enables shoppers to move items over the self-checkout scanner, allowing the system to register the items without the need for visible barcodes.
By adopting these invisible barcodes, Walmart aims to reduce incidents of theft while maintaining the convenience of self-checkout for customers. This forward-thinking approach could potentially reshape the future of retail technology.