This Day, That Year

Item from Nov 15, 1992, in China Daily: Self-service shopping, a concept in the West that shoppers pick what they want directly from shelves, is gaining in popularity.

Technology is bringing tremendous changes to people’s shopping experience in China. Not only is e-commerce a growing trend, but unmanned supermarkets are appearing.

In these stores shoppers scan a QR code using their smartphones to open the store door, and pick up their snacks and drinks before scanning them in the product-identification area. Payment is made via a QR code that pops up on the screen to complete the transaction. Then the door opens to let the customers out.

Similar to the Amazon Go’s experimental outlet in the United States last year, there is no checkout or cashier.

Such stores have been opened in Shanghai and Beijing in the past months.

The unmanned supermarket creates a new model for the retail industry that combines the advantages of online and offline service to offer people a more convenient and efficient shopping experience.

Likewise, most traditional retailers offer online shopping services to improve the buying experience for consumers.