Commentary

Many Would Check Out Tech-Operated Store With No Clerks Or Staff

Curiosity may be a hidden driver of the Internet of Things.

Various studies have shown that familiarity with many IoT technologies or products is relatively low.

A consumer obviously isn’t likely to buy something they don’t know about.

Amazon has been experimenting with one version of new technology customers can’t even see. Its Amazon Go app would allow shoppers to enter a store, select the items they want, put them in a bag and walk out of the checkout-less store. The experiment is in a Seattle concept store.

Now a new study suggests that a store using technology to get shoppers out of a store faster might draw some interest.

It turns out the main draw for such capabilities at a store just may be curiosity.

Almost half (46%) of female shoppers said they would want to check out a store with no clerks or staff that is operated by technology. The shopping study comprised two surveys of 1,500 consumers each conducted by Euclid Analytics.

When asked what would drive them to shop at a physical store that has no clerks or staff and is completely operated by technology, here’s what female shoppers said:

  • 46% -- It’s interesting, I would go once to check it out
  • 25% -- Cheaper products
  • 18% -- Quick check-out lines
  • 10% -- Real-time promotions in-store

Male shoppers had somewhat similar reactions, though with fewer (41%) saying they would check it out once and more (30%) being driven by cheaper products.

Reasons for not shopping at such an automated store include valuing human interaction for 49% of men and 39% of women and not liking that human jobs have been eliminated by 21% of men and 33% of women.

At least in the automated-retail aspect of the Internet of Things, many consumers would at least take a look.

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