US retailer Walmart is trialling a new system called “Scan & Go” which allows consumers to scan product barcodes with an iPhone app, before paying for them at a self-checkout counter.
According to Reuters, the retail giant is currently trialling the new system at a supercentre in Rogers, Arkansas.
The discount retail chain estimates it currently spends around $US12 million per second on checkout staff wages across it US stores, citing the new technology as a possible way to cut costs.
The company cites reduced checkout waiting times and increased consumer convenience as other potential benefits of the technology.
The trial comes after Casio announced an Android tablet-based point of sale system in March.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
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