If you have ever spent a weekend navigating the crowded aisles of Costco, you know the drill. You finally fill your cart with bulk goods and snacks, only to hit the ultimate roadblock: the massive, slow-moving checkout line.
The warehouse giant is rolling out a major change. Costco is currently piloting high-speed automated pay stations that promise to process your order in under ten seconds.
Here is a look at exactly how the new process works.
The “Pre-Scan” Strategy
Instead of waiting to unload your massive haul onto a conveyor belt, a Costco employee comes to you. While you are still standing in line, a staff member uses a handheld scanner to pre-scan every single item right inside your cart.
This eliminates the time-consuming step of unloading and reloading your items at the register.
The 8-Second Kiosk
By the time you reach the front of the line, your entire order is already processed in the system. All you have to do is step up to the automated kiosk, scan your membership card, and your items will magically appear on the screen.
Then, you simply tap your card to pay. According to Costco Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip, this streamlined process allows for “an average transaction time of around eight seconds.”
Where Can You Find It?
Currently, these high-speed automated stations are in a testing phase at select warehouses.
The shift has been highly successful so far, with Millerchip noting during the company’s second-quarter earnings call: “Early results show this is improving the flow of traffic, and we have received great member feedback.”
Shoppers who have tested it out are already calling it a “major time-saver” because they no longer have to lift heavy bulk items out of their carts.
As Costco continues to roll out these digital enhancements, the days of spending 20 minutes waiting to pay for your groceries could soon be a thing of the past.
Keep an eye out during your next weekend shopping run—you might just get to experience the fastest Costco checkout ever.
