OSAKA, Japan—Panasonic Corp. is introducing convenience-store checkout machines that can scan and bag items on their own, joining Amazon.com Inc. in the push for more retail automation. In the Panasonic system, demonstrated here Monday, a special shopping basket is designed to detect the merchandise in the basket and calculate the bill. After a customer places the basket in a slot, the bottom of the basket slides out and the merchandise drops into a plastic bag underneath, ready to be carried away. Customers can pay with cash...
Panasonic is trialling convenience-store checkout machines that are capable of scanning and bagging items themselves. The system uses a shopping basket that detects merchandise inside it and then calculates the bill. The bottom of the basket slides out and the merchandise drops into a bag, ready to be carried away. Monday , Panasonic showcased its own automation concept called Amazon Go , which eliminates tills and checkouts altogether. The Panasonic system is be tested in a Lawson store next to the electronics giant's Japan headquarters.