Sam’s Club, the membership-based warehouse store owned by Walmart, is implementing a new checkout change aimed at speeding up wait times for shoppers. The change will allow customers to scan and pay for groceries using a phone app and simply walk straight out of the store. This was confirmed by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon in an earnings call last week.
The new exit technology at Sam’s Club will include an airport-style scanner with AI cameras to analyze shoppers’ carts and ensure that all items have been scanned and paid for on the app. This means that employees will no longer need to check receipts at the exit, allowing members to leave the store without any further delay.
According to McMillon, this change was prompted by the frustration of members with long checkout lines and congested exits during busy times. This has been a major gripe for many Sam’s Club shoppers, causing them to lose valuable time and potentially discouraging them from returning to the store.
The move towards a more efficient and convenient checkout process falls in line with the company’s recent efforts to improve the customer experience. It also demonstrates Walmart’s commitment to integrating technology into its operations in order to stay competitive in the retail market.
This new feature will initially be rolled out in Sam’s Club stores in the US. However, with Walmart’s global reach, it wouldn’t be surprising if this technology is implemented in other countries in the future. This move may also put pressure on other retailers to follow suit and offer similar services to their customers.
The decision to implement this new technology comes amidst Walmart’s expansion plans. They had announced in January that they would be opening over 150 new stores in the next five years. However, it seems that not all of their current stores are meeting their financial expectations, leading to the closure of some locations.
According to spokespeople for Walmart, the stores that were closed were not performing well and were not generating sufficient sales. This move, they claim, is necessary for the company’s financial success and growth.
Costco, Sam’s Club’s main rival, has also been expanding and currently has over 800 locations worldwide. Both warehouse clubs require membership for shopping. Costco was founded in 1976 as Price Club and has been a formidable competitor for four decades. Meanwhile, Walmart founded Sam’s Club in 1983 in response to the success of Costco.
Overall, the new checkout change at Sam’s Club is a positive step towards improving the customer experience and streamlining the shopping process. It remains to be seen how successful this new technology will be in reducing wait times and increasing customer satisfaction. However, it is clear that Walmart is constantly striving to innovate and stay ahead in the retail market.
