Artificial intelligence will help Sam's Club eliminate lines for receipt checking

Members of the warehouse retail chain Sam’s Club will be able to spend more time shopping and less time waiting in line.

The company announced this week that it is enlisting the help of artificial intelligence to eliminate the need to have their receipts verified before leaving the store.

The new tech will utilize a first-of-its-kind application of AI and computer vision technology that will no longer require customers to line up at the club's exit area.

Currently being tested at ten Sam's Club locations, the technology is designed to confirm that members have paid for all items in their shopping carts, without requiring an employee to check members' purchases before leaving the club.

The change is in response to members’ requests for a faster and more convenient shopping experience.

Sam’s Club says members consistently rated the wait times at the exit - especially during busy periods - as a pain point in the shopping experience.

When the new systems are installed in the coming year, a customer completes payment at a register or via Scan & Go, a combination of computer vision and digital technology deployed in the exit area of the club captures images of carts and verifies payment for all items within a member's basket.

With AI working in the background to continually speed the process, this digital technology not only streamlines the member's exit but also allows exit greeters to refocus their time and expertise to help customers.

The company said plans to expand the tech to its nearly 600 clubs by the end of the year.