Wal-Mart is testing out a new app that can reduce the number of people the retail chain employs. The so called “Scan and Go” app will allow customers to scan products they’re buying while in the store and then simply pay for the goods at a special desk. At the moment, the company’s employees are playing with an iPhone app, but we’re sure Android version is in development, as well.
Going forward, the next step would be to integrate some mobile payments mechanism in it and make the process completely hassle free, eventually removing cashiers from the picture. It is said that these employees cost Wal-Mart as much as $12 million per second so it’s no wonder the company wants to do something about it. Then again, we’re not sure firing all those people is the part of the solution, at least when we look at the economy in general. What do you say?
[Via: WSJ]