It looks like South Africa is catching up with the rest of the world after a picture of a self-service checkout till started trending on social media…
Self-checkout machines provide a mechanism for customers to process their own purchases from a retailer. They are an alternative to the traditional cashier-staffed checkout. In practice, the customer assumes the job of the cashier by scanning and applying payment for the items themselves.
Wikipedia reported that there were around 430,000 self-checkout units worldwide and now South Africa can add one more store…
Tshiamo Exquicit Kush posted the photo after seeing the tills at a Pick n Pay in Ottery, Cape Town. Tshiamo noted a concern that the tills would cause a loss of jobs.
“Pick n Pay is doing it, they won’t be needing cashiers anymore #JobCutting”
But Pick n Pay’s group executive for strategy and corporate affairs‚ David North‚ said the machine was merely in test phase in one store in Cape Town.
“We are always looking at new ways to help our customers by making their shopping trip easier and more convenient. In this case we are testing self-service checkouts in one store to see if it can save customers time at the till — particularly those in a hurry and shopping for just a few items.”
North added: “We see it as an additional service and we are testing it in one store. Staff are required to monitor self-service checkouts and there is no impact on employment.”
Pick n Pay spokesperson, Cobus Barnard spoke to Cape Talk and squashed rumors that their self-service check-out machine may lead to mass job cuts. Listen below.
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