The future of shopping? Shoppers hail Tesco’s no-scan ‘magic tills’ as ‘easier and more convenient’ as supermarket rolls out sensors and cameras to calculate grocery bills

• The technology uses a combination of sensors and cameras to track customers 

Shoppers have hailed Tesco’s introduction of no-scan ‘magic tills’ for making grocery shopping ‘easier and more convenient’. 

The technology brought in by Britain’s biggest supermarket chain uses a combination of sensors and cameras to track customers as they move through its stores, automatically registering what they pick up as they go.

When they walk out the customer will then be given a list of items the store thinks they have picked up, which they can check is correct, before paying.

The system has been introduced in a branch in Hammersmith, London, following a trial of similar technology in Holborn in 2021, while other brands such as Amazon and Aldi have made moves in this direction in recent years.

Shoppers in London have been left in awe of the new paying system, which they say speeds up their shop by making things more convenient, and believe it should be introduced in more stores across the UK. 

Shoppers have hailed Tesco’s introduction of no-scan ‘magic tills’ for making grocery shopping ‘easier and more convenient’. Pictured: The entrance of Fulham Reach Tesco Express that has installed new ‘magic Tills’

The technology brought in by Britain’s biggest supermarket chain uses a combination of sensors and cameras to track customers as they move through its stores, automatically registering what they pick up as they go

Shoppers in London have been left in awe of the new paying system which they say speeds up their shop. Pictured: One shopper Jordan Appleyard, 24, pictured after using the ‘magic tills’ 

Tesco first introduced the technology in what it calls GetGo stores in October 2021. There are now branches in Chiswell Street, Fulham and High Holborn in London, as well as one at Aston University in Birmingham.

Customers at these stores would have to check-in using an app, before picking up what they need and walking out without using a checkout till.

However, the latest iteration of the technology means there is no need to download or use an app, with anybody able to walk in and use the store.

Instead, cameras will automatically register people as they enter and track them as they do their shopping, the Sunday Times reports.

Tesco says the system does not use facial recognition, instead assigning customers a series of lines that make them look like stick figures.

This can track people through the aisles and is meant to work in tandem with sensors on the shelves that determine the weight of items that have been removed, in theory allowing the store to figure out exactly how much of each product the customer has picked up.

Shoppers outside the Fulham Reach Tesco Express, which is one of a few stores in London that has installed new ‘magic Tills’, spoke to MailOnline about their experience using the new technology. 

Charlie Hazlem, 28, a technician who lives in nearby and who has used the store multiple times, said: ‘I think it’s great, it’s very convenient. I haven’t really thought about the impact it might have on staff, I guess there are still other roles that people can do that are needed in stores like this.

Tesco first introduced the technology in what it calls GetGo stores in October 2021. There are now branches in Chiswell Street, Fulham (pictured) and High Holborn in London, as well as one at Aston University in Birmingham

Customers at these stores would have to check-in using an app at an automatic gate at the shop’s entrance, before picking up what they need and walking out without using a checkout till

A customer uses the scan-free store in Holborn in October 2019 during a trial. The company has now introduced it in another store in the capital

The store in Fulham Reach still has self-checkout tills available for those who decide not to use the new system 

Charlie Hazlem, 28, a technician who lives in nearby and who has used the store multiple times, said it was very ‘convenient’

‘They still need people to run and manage them, stocking them up and things like that.

‘The first time I saw this type of paying system was in Uniqlo, the clothes store. I was absolutely mind-blown by it and how it made everything so much simpler.

‘You get two receipts when you buy something in this Tesco, one with all your items and one with a barcode to scan to let you out of the store.

‘I guess it’s a bit strange getting two receipts, and a bit of a waste of paper.

‘But, overall, I think it should be rolled lout to more stores now to speed things up.’

Jordan Appleyard, 24, an accountant who has lived for three months in the development near the Tesco, said: ‘I think this new way of paying is a good thing. I think more Express stories should have this, it makes things far simpler and more convenient.

‘You get a receipt that shows everything you pay for, and another to let you out of the store. There are no queues either so you can shop very quickly.

‘I have lived in the area for three months and use the store most days. It’s great.

‘I don’t notice the cameras too much. I guess it could be a bit creepy having them track all your movements, but it speeds things up at the end of the day,

‘I think it also might deter shoplifters more, knowing that cameras are tracking you all the time.

‘The cameras don’t worry me too much, I hardly notice it and I think if you only pop into the store now and again it wouldn’t bother you at all. There are cameras everywhere now.’

James Murfin, 45, a CEO of a business and who lives nearby, said: ‘I’ve been in this store a few times and think the new scanning system is great.

‘It’s very fast because there is no queue, and you can get your receipt and barcode to scan out on your phone so you don’t waste any paper. It’s very simple.

James Murfin, 45, a CEO of a business and who lives nearby, said he thought the new scanning system was ‘great’

Emily South, 27, an events manager who lives in the area, said however that she tried out the new scanning system and it didn’t work for her

General view of Fulham Reach Express that has installed new ‘magic Tills’ in Hammersmith

A view of one of the aisle’s in the Fulham Reach branch where cameras can be seen attached to the ceiling which automatically register people as they enter and track them as they do their shopping

Tesco says the system does not use facial recognition, instead the cameras assign customers a series of lines that make them look like stick figures

This allows the cameras to track people through the aisles and is meant to work in tandem with sensors on the shelves that determine the weight of items that have been removed

‘I think people would be happier and enjoying themselves more if all stores were like this. It just makes it so much simpler to get your shopping. I think it’s a great system.

‘The cameras don’t bother me honestly. There are a lot of CCTV cameras in this area anyway, I think everyone is just used to it now.’

Tyrese Moore, 24, a technician from north London, said: ‘I think this new system is easier and more convenient for grocery shopping. You just go in, get what you need, and walk out. It’s very simple.

‘I feel like a lot more stores could do with having this. I think it’s really great.

‘I know the cameras follow you around, but it doesn’t bother me at all. You get cameras everywhere anyway.’

Emily South, 27, an events manager who lives in the area, said: ‘I tried out the new scanning system and it didn’t work for me.

‘I didn’t get a receipt, and you need one with a separate barcode to get out of the store. The staff had to help me to leave. I hadn’t used this before so it was interesting to see how it worked.

‘When it works, I guess this would be very convenient and making shopping so much quicker. The cameras don’t bother me, but I haven’t really thought about staff losing their jobs or being replaced.’

Max Greenfield, 24, a sales executive who lives near the Tesco, said: ‘I don’t understand why this has been launched in such a nice location. Why did they introduce it here?

‘It seems a bit strange, a bit random. I don’t think they should bring out this system anywhere else, it doesn’t make much sense to me. I haven’t seen it anywhere else.’

Source: Read Full Article