Costco Blends Tech, Tradition for Smoother Shopping

0:00It's March 27th. Welcome in. This is Durham News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Retail chains like Target and Walmart keep wrestling with self-checkout versus traditional lanes. But a new survey shows shoppers are split. Forty-three percent prefer self-checkout overall. With 53 percent of those age 18 to 44, favoring it for quicker lines and more. Privacy. Long a fan of man-checkouts is now wrapping up changes in stores and online. Their chief financial officer highlighted gains from mobile wallet updates, pharmacy pay-ahead options, and employee pre-scan tech, where staff scan. Items early in line to speed things up. Older shoppers aged 45 and upstate with traditional methods, mainly because they often have carts full of goods. Experts say Costco can blend tech improvements without losing its no-frills vibe, much like rivals testing AI for exits. They're also piloting automated pay stations that wrap up pre-scan orders in about eight

1:02seconds, boosting traffic flow, and earning positive. Feedback from members. Digital efforts include better personalization on the website, helping e-commerce sales. Under new chief executive Ron Vockress this year, Costco's eyeing smoother stock checks and easier online processes while staying true to value-driven. Roots setting the stage for broader member perks ahead.