Last night I decided to try out Woolworth’s new ‘Scan & Go’ technology which gives customers the option to scan their grocery items as they go.
The result was surprising.
My local Woolies is at Baulkham Hills in Sydney but my nearest ‘Scan & Go’ store is in Rouse Hill, so off I went.
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You have to be a Woolworths member to use the technology, and I already am.
The stores offer devices customers can attach to their trolleys to use to scan their items, or you can use the scanner on your phone via the Woolies app, which is what I did.
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My first problem was finding a trolley. You need a $1 or $2 coin to access a trolley at Rouse Hill, which I didn’t have, so I walked around the parking lot until I found an unlocked trolley.
Next, I set up my reusable bags in the trolley, as the Woolworths ‘Scan & Go’ instructions recommend.
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Then I did my shopping, packing the items the bags as I went, the entire time wondering if someone was going to check I was doing it correctly and, most importantly, not stealing, because it seemed like it would be easy to do.
Scanning was easy – it’s very sensitive and, aside from my packing skills not being the best, I finished my shop and was able to see exactly what I was spending.
There is only one Scan&Go aisle at the store, hidden between a couple of manned checkouts and self-service checkouts.
I pushed my trolley to the aisle and all I had to do was choose the option in the app saying I had completed my shop, scan the code and pay.
I’ve read a lot about customers’ thoughts regarding Scan&Go. A lot of them said they felt like workers. I felt like a thief.
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There is a security gate that opens once you have paid for your shop and they just swung open for me.
Nobody checked I hadn’t made a mistake or forgotten to scan something. Nobody praised me for having mastered the technology so quickly.
There wasn’t even a supervisor that I could see, as there normally is at self-checkout. I don’t know about you, but I like knowing they are there.
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Scan&Go works really well and it is a convenient option for customers who like to shop in stores.
While I was shopping, I saw a personal shopper preparing an order for an online customer and was instantly reminded of how much I love having my groceries delivered.
I alternate each week between a Coles or Woolies delivery and trips to Aldi, but I go to Aldi with my partner Shamus, which makes it more fun and he carries the heavy bags for me.
The biggest surprise for me was that I spent less using Scan&Go because I filled my bags up so quickly and didn’t want to go to the front of the store for more or make a mess by throwing items haphazardly into the trolley as I usually do.
I spent $177 instead of my usual $250-$300.
I may be messy, but I am also ultra-compliant, and the app had stated we should pack the items into bags as we go so once they were full I called it quits.
I can’t help but think Scan&Go is for customers who don’t do big shops. I think us big shoppers are better off ordering online, using so-called ‘Click and Collect’ options or using an aisle with a checkout worker.
Scan&Go probably suits mid-size shoppers and is an alternative to the self-service aisles.
Basket shoppers can use the self-service section with a supervisor.
I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all option. Having a range of purchasing and checkout options seems the best way forward for me, and that seems to be the aim of the major supermarkets.
A Woolworths spokesperson told 9honey while Scan&Go has been in use for just over a week, the technology as “exceeded expectations.”
“Customers are saying the trolley is saving them time and the ability to see a running total of their shop means it’s helping them better manage their budget,” they said.
“This is about giving customers the choice of how they want to shop and there’s no impact on team rosters or hours.
They added that they have employed more people in stores to cater to the “rise of online shopping so we’ve created more roles for personal shoppers that pick and pack orders for Direct to Boot and home delivery.”
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Source: honey.nine.com.au
George Barham, an accomplished journalist and avid gambling enthusiast, serves as the esteemed Editor-in-Chief at fly-to-australia.com, Australia’s leading source for comprehensive gambling news and insights. With an unwavering passion for both the written word and the ever-evolving world of betting and gaming, George brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the helm of our editorial team.
