Supermarket : The Future

Self-Scanning

During busy times queues build up at supermarket tills and customers may have to wait a long time to pay for the goods that they have purchased.

One method that can overcome the problem of long queues is self-scanning. In a supermarket which has a self-scanning system customers scan the barcodes of products as they put them into a trolley using a mini scanner on the trolley.

Ths scanner is connected to the supermarket stock database by a LAN using radio waves. As the products are scanned the total price of the shopping is calculated using the prices in the database. Once the customer has finished shopping the cost of the goods is transferred from his bank account to the supermarket's.

Supermarket employees make occasional checks on the contents of trolleys to ensure that customers are not tempted to put items into their trolleys without scanning them. Before customers are allowed to self-scan they must register with the supermarket so that they can be identified.

Internet Shopping

Some supermarkets now offer their customers the opportunity to shop from home using the Internet. A shopper can log on to a supermarket web site and select the products that he wants to purchase. The supermarket will then deliver these items to him at an agreed time. This is an example of electronic commerce (or e-commerce).

Advantages of Internet Shopping Disadvantages of Internet Shopping
  • You can shop whenever you want to without having to go out.
  • You do not have to queue up at a till to pay for the goods you buy.
  • You can build a regular "shopping list" of goods which you want to buy every week and these will be delivered to you automatically.
  • Most supermarkets charge a delivery fee to bring the items to your home.
  • You can not see the goods before you purchase them. This may be especially important with fresh produce such as vergetables and fruit.
  • Some special offers which are available in store may not be available on the Internet.
  • Some people are concerned about the security of making purchases via the Internet.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004