This is thanks to a company called Revel Systems who has designed a point of sales system using iPads. At the moment the system is currently being tested out at a supermarket chain called Marty’s Market in Pittsburgh, PA. The iPads will allow cashiers access to the company’s cloud-based grocery inventory and payment system, and at the same time create a kiosk where customers can checkout items for themselves (systems like that are already in play in countries such as Australia). According to Revel Systems, their “iGrocery store” concept makes more sense compared to the current POS systems employed in supermarkets.
Not only is the current system expensive to obtain and upkeep, but training staff on using the system can take quite a while and is apparently a complicated process. Instead the company is relying on the familiarity that people have with the iPad to make the experience and transition a lot smoother. No word on when other supermarkets will start adopting the iGrocery store concept, but if you live in Pittsburgh, PA and want to see the iPads in action, you know which supermarket to check out!