They’ve conquered the technology industry and now Apple are hoping to tackle the big issue of…. store queueing! The California-based company have revealed a smart shopping system this week that they hope will make annoying queues at their retail stores a thing of the past.
Apple showcased the new system, which uses iPads called ‘smart signs’ instead of product labels, at its Covent Garden store on Monday. The system means customers can summon Apple employees at the touch of a button who then bring credit card machines straight to them – effectively eliminating the need to queue at a conventional counter.
The new system will be rolled out across 300 of the manufacturer’s worldwide retail stores in the coming months and ties in with the 10th anniversary of the opening of the first Apple store. In addition to affecting queueing time, the new system will also allow customers to see videos, pricing and call a member of staff from the iPads which will be attached to all in-store products.
“It’s a very clever idea, as queues are the biggest problem in high street stores. Apple is really leading the way in using technology to sell goods in stores, and I think we will see other retailers learning a lot from this,” commented Pocket Lint’s Stuart Miles.
In addition to the new shopping system, Apple also revealed a new set up service which allows customers to bring in their old phone or computer and have their information transferred in-store.
“It makes a huge difference. Everything was set up, even the printer I bought. I went to PC World first, and it just wasn’t the same so I decided to come to the Apple Store,” said Apple customer Hannah Mitchell.
