Costco’s New Membership Scanners Speed Up Checkout and Boost Customer Satisfaction

Clear Facts

• Costco has introduced membership card scanners at the front of its U.S. stores.
• The scanners provide real-time traffic counts and improve operational efficiency.
• Customers appreciate the faster checkout process and the ability to check inventory via a new mobile app tool.

Costco is already experiencing positive outcomes from the recent implementation of membership card scanners at the entrances of its U.S. warehouses.

This move, which has been in place in Europe for over two years, has been piloted in the U.S. for about six months, according to Costco CEO Ron Vachris.

During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Vachris highlighted several benefits of the new system.

“It gives our operators real-time traffic counts throughout the day,” Vachris noted.

“So, we’re able to adjust front-end lines that we need to open and close lines based on the fluctuations of business.”

The scanners have also enhanced the monitoring of fresh foods by providing better insights into traffic patterns.

“And it has also taken the friction of membership verification away from the front-end registers and moved that to the front door, where we’re able to look at people’s membership status,” Vachris added.

The new system not only speeds up the checkout process but also notifies customers of upcoming membership renewals before they reach the registers.

“The membership card scanners installed at the front doors have delivered on the goal of speeding up the checkout process. This has been very well received by our members,” Vachris emphasized.

Additionally, Costco members are “very excited” about a new feature on the mobile app that allows them to check inventory through the “search warehouse inventory” tool.

This innovative approach is clearly paying off for Costco, enhancing both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

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