Retail giant Walmart is making significant changes to its checkout system, with the removal of self-checkout kiosks at some of its locations. The decision comes as Walmart aims to enhance the overall customer experience after receiving feedback about long lines and wait times.
According to spokesperson Brian Little, the removal of self-checkout kiosks is part of an effort to provide more personalized and efficient service to customers. “We continually look at ways to provide our customers with the best shopping experience and that includes adjusting the checkout area in stores,” Little explained.
Several Walmart stores in New Mexico have already removed their self-checkout kiosks, with plans for more locations to follow suit. In September 2023, two Albuquerque stores underwent renovations to replace the checkout lanes, while changes to a third area store were in progress.
More recently, other locations, including a Cleveland, Ohio Steelyard store and a St. Louis-area Supercenter in Missouri, have also done away with self-checkout systems. Walmart confirmed these changes, noting that associate-staffed checkouts will now replace the self-checkout lanes.
While Walmart has over 4,700 locations across the US, the company has clarified that there is no widespread plan to eliminate self-checkout kiosks from all stores. Meanwhile, other retailers like Dollar General and Five Below are also transitioning away from certain self-checkout kiosks due to challenges with inventory management.
Target, on the other hand, has implemented a new policy that limits self-checkout lanes to customers purchasing ten items or less. This move has reportedly doubled the speed of the checkout process compared to when there were no restrictions in place.
Overall, these changes are part of a larger effort by retailers to improve the shopping experience for customers and enhance operational efficiency in-store.
