#14: The Self-Checkout Conundrum
Whenever possible, I advocate for the self-checkout option at stores – as we’ve discussed, it’s all about minimizing interaction with people. However, recently, I’ve noticed that some places, like Walmart, have deactivated the scale function. I suppose they grew weary of their employees being summoned constantly to verify purchases and items. It seemed to happen with every single scan, and it must have been maddening for them.
In theory, self-checkout is a brilliant idea, but it often falls short of efficiency in practice. Groceries, in particular, have proven to be a tough nut to crack in the quest for efficient self-checkout. Walmart, for instance, has implemented a clever camera system that verifies whether the beep occurs when you scan an item before you place it in the bagging area.