Dive Brief:

• Kroger grocery stores have embraced QueVision’s infrared camera technology, which helps cut customer wait times at checkout by predicting what will be needed based on when they enter the store. 

• Waiting at checkout is a top customer pet peeve and an issue for retailers like grocery stores and general merchandise companies like Target and Walmart.

• The company is reporting great success with the system, but there are some kinks to be worked out in its execution at some stores, as staffing patterns are often disrupted by QueVision’s reports. 

Dive Insight:

It uses fairly cutting edge technology, but QueVision’s basic approach is quite simple: count the number of customers coming in at any moment and be prepared to check them out about 30 minutes later. Kroger is reporting slashed checkout times at the stores where it’s installed QueVision — its goal is to never have more than one customer ahead of anyone waiting in line. But the system has also disrupted various departments within the store as employees have to leave duties to staff checkouts. QueVision seems like one solution, but dealing with the checkout-wait issue seems to require a lot of creativity, depending on the retailer and the store.