Retailers Race Against Amazon to Automate Stores
April 2nd, 2018Via: New York Times:
A global race to automate stores is underway among several of the world’s top retailers and small tech start-ups, which are motivated to shave labor costs and minimize shoppers’ frustrations, like waiting for cashiers. They are also trying to prevent Amazon from dominating the physical retail world as it does online shopping.
Companies are testing robots that help keep shelves stocked, as well as apps that let shoppers ring up items with a smartphone. High-tech systems like the one used by Amazon Go completely automate the checkout process. China, which has its own ambitious e-commerce companies, is emerging as an especially fertile place for these retail experiments.
If they succeed, these new technologies could add further uncertainty to the retail work force, which is already in flux because of the growth of online shopping.
Out in the European countryside, where retail locations are few & far between, Amazon is our digital storefront of choice.
We try to purchase at local stores where possible, but quite often they don’t even have what we’re looking for — and most small items are just a click-and-a-day (or so) away via Amazon Prime.
If we lived in a major city, the balance would be different, but even then it’s hard to argue with the sheer convenience of their business model.