Woolworths has introduced a new way to shop: with a digital shopping cart. But many people are not happy about it.
The supermarket giant launched the Scan&Go Trolley on a trial basis in select Sydney stores, allowing customers to scan their items as they shop using a tablet.
However, many have expressed concerns, finding the change inconvenient and time-consuming compared to traditional cash registers.
Before shopping, customers can unlock a tablet by scanning their Everyday Rewards card and placing it on a shopping cart.
You can easily track your purchases and pay for them in one go, without having to remove anything.
The new offering is being trialled at Woolworths Windsor in Sydney’s north-west, with plans to also launch in Warringah Mall, The Ponds, Kellyville North, Lane Cove, Kellyville, Oran Park, Kellyville Grove, Schofields Town Centre and North Parramatta.
One of the customers, Jenny, said it took longer than usual to do her daily shopping thanks to the new technology.
“It wasn’t as easy as just doing my normal grocery shopping. I don’t know where to scan it,” she said. 7NEWS.
Woolworths has launched the Scan&Go Trolley trial in Sydney, allowing customers to scan their items as they shop using a tablet
“It took a lot longer than I thought. It was finding the products, and then scanning them and leaning over them and just checking them all the time.”
Others complained on social media, with one person claiming the technology is “dehumanizing” because it reduces the amount of social interaction in the store.
“I feel so sorry for the elderly who may not have a clue how to use this technology,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“No, I want my human cashiers to scan and bag my items. I think we should get a discount if we scan and bag our own groceries,” said another.
“I think it’s just a way to dehumanize us, by drifting further and further away from social life while endangering the lives of people trying to make ends meet,” added a third.
Before shopping, customers can unlock a tablet by scanning their Everyday Rewards card and placing it on a shopping cart. But shoppers on TikTok were furious, claiming the new feature makes them feel like Woolworths employees
“I don’t want to lose my social skills completely, because this is about the only regular time besides my studies where I have physical contact with others,” wrote another.
According to Woolworths, the change is mainly about making supermarkets easier for customers.
“Our customers expect us to deliver both value and convenience,” Woolworths Group chief executive Faye IIhan said in a statement.
‘Scan&Go Trolley is a leading innovation that helps them save time and balance their budget in the supermarket.
‘Depending on the feedback from our customers, we hope to introduce the Scan&Go Trolley in more supermarkets across the country.’
The latest technology is an extension of the mobile functionality offered at select locations.