Saturday, 24 May 2008
Woolworths missed opportunity
 Today I decided to try the newly installed self-serve check-outs at Woolworth's for my fortnightly shop. I had great experiences at the self-serve at Big W, so was optimistic the Woolworths system would be be as simple to use. Big disappointment! You first need a human to key you into the system (sort of defeats the purpose) at our supermarket. If you use your own green bags you totally confuse the machine, so every bag you add and remove means another human visit to swipe their card in and key your green bag into the system. I gather their is a tiny button on the first screen to use your own bags that will reduce this hassle, as our friendly assistant told us when we were half way through scanning. The technology is slower than returning library books - beep - wait - wait - wait - put it in your bag. If you move something from one bag to another in packing you need a human to recalibrate the system, if the item is too heavy for the scales under the bag (think of cans of soft drink or dog food) another visit from the human. If you move too fast - another visit from the human. If you take the bag off the scales a second before you get your three green lights as ready to move (another few seconds delay) and another human visit. They have built in so many layers to reduce shoplifting that the system is slow and cumbersome. The only place to put filled bags is on the floor for everyone to trip over unless you are in the know and bring your own empty trolley with you to fill. Ever had the idea that it would actually be faster and easier just going through the checkouts with humans on them? As someone who embraces their inner nerd and detests grocery shopping I was really hopeful that this would save time. Not with this round of software Woolies. Reading all the media releases suggests Woolies only really wants people with one or two items to use the self-serve and those with bigger shops to go through the ones with personnel on them. They have achieved their goal. I am going back to the old fashioned method until they bring out V2 of the software. That of course is until I can find a company where I can do my full shop on-line at a good price which means I can avoid supermarkets all together (ah bliss!). Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Putting your business into words Labels: technology trends |
I'd have been very surprised if Woolworths where the ones to make this work. Not without launching relaunching wasting on testing and developing.
Still, maybe they'll tweak & adjust the system into functioning.
Maybe Aldi will make it work.They seem to get all the it a bit more.
But then an Aldi Checkouter already checks out at least 3 X more people an hour the a Woolies one so its a higher bar to beat.