On Tuesday 18th of October, Tesco launched their first ‘no checkout’ store in High Holborn in London. There is an ongoing debate about whether this new kind of store is a step in the right direction.
Following Amazon’s footsteps, Tesco opened their first store called GetGo where no checkout is needed. There are 6 stores which function with said characteristics.
Though it seems illogical at first that the stores might let you walk out without actually showing what you buy, or paying for it, the secret behind it all lies in technology. High-tech cameras track what consumers grab, and weight sensors detect when certain items are picked up. This is how the method works, ultimately tracking what products you buy without having to show them at the checkout area.
The only difference between this store and regular ones is that when you enter you need to have downloaded the Tesco App, which will facilitate the item tracking and be where the actual transaction takes place. Credit card information is required and after confirmation of the items bought the corresponding amount of money is cashed.
The public has many concerns regarding the new system. How products with a limit of age necessary to consume, such as alcoholic beverages, will be catered only to the accepted public? Or if the unemployment rate will increase due to the lack of need for cashiers in the store.
However, Tesco's directing manager Kevin Tindall, stated that this will not be an issue since certain goods are in a restricted area where employees check ID to enter, and the store employs 22 workers which is the average for stores of said size.
It’s interesting to see how technology directly affects our daily routine, how new developments create new alternatives or approaches to things as regular as grocery shopping.
Bibliography
Tesco launches first checkout-free high street store. (2021, October 19) Border Telegraph. https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/national/19656158.tesco-launches-first-checkout-free-high-street-store/
Bourke, J. (2021, October 19) Tesco tech play: Supermarket giant launches checkout-free GetGo store in London. Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/leisure-retail/tesco-tech-play-supermarket-giant-launches-checkoutfree-getgo-store-in-london-high-holborn-b961123.html
Nott, G. (2021, October 19) Tesco launches checkout-free store GetGo in central London. The Grocer. https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/tesco/tesco-launches-checkout-free-store-getgo-in-central-london/660936.article