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See How Sam’s Club Is Using Its New Computer Vision Technology
Walmart’s Sam’s Club banner expects to test new computer vision technology this spring in Sam’s Club Now, its Dallas-based innovation lab store.
Sam’s Club reports it has developed the retail tech and filed a patent, expecting club members will be able to test this technology using the Sam’s Club Now mobile app soon.
The test lab store experiments with a mobile-first shopping experience powered by the Sam’s Club Now app. The retailer has been testing technology in Sam’s Club Now since it openined last October, such as augmented reality, wayfinding and navigation.
Its newest tech is designed to make its Scan & Go service faster and easier. Scan & Go is the foundation of the Sam’s Club Now app, which all members have to use to shop in the concept store.
“Since launching our Scan & Go two years ago, we’ve seen its popularity continue to increase,” noted Eddie Garcia, VP, Product and Member Experience, in a blog post. “With the upcoming test, we’ll enhance the experience with the launch of a technology using computer vision and machine learning.”
This new scanning technology recognizes products from any angle without requiring members to search for a barcode on the package. Rather than having to scan a barcode just right, the camera in the app identifies the product with a simple hover adds it to the member’s shopping list.
Sam’s Club said it anticipates incorporating this same technology into the tools associates use. Additionally, it plans to experiment with the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to help manage member shopping lists.
