grocery lineMany grocery shoppers have a fear of lengthy checkout lines. Grocery stores continue to try and find news ways to deal with this issue so as to remain competitive. One of the key measures adopted by stores is that of installing new technology as a tool for measuring foot traffic in virtually all supermarkets. The technology in question is often referred to as QueVision. It makes use of concealed infrared cameras that have body heat trackers and they are used to figure out the number of customers shopping at a specific time. Managers then use the information for deploying employees at cash registers during busy times.

Impact of the Technology

The addition of this technology is already paying off. QueVision has resulted in trimming the average time required to get to the front line. The time has reduced from approximately four minutes to about 30 seconds. The checkout-technology system is viewed as an attempt by conventional grocery chains to advance and remain competitive via technological use. The advantages of QueVision have been realized by Ralphs’ grocery store, which has not made a major leap forward since the introduction of a bar code scanner in the 1970s. For decades, the shopping experience has remained the same due to thin profit margins.

Most grocery stores want to appeal to its customers, especially the younger shoppers. Most of these shoppers have the tendency of avoiding conventional supermarkets because they view them as the places their parents do shopping. Analysts have asserted that one of the most effective ways to woo the young generation is by making grocery stores more tech-friendly. This entails installing the latest technology and applications in stores.