Horizon : Shops without staff
【明報專訊】Can you imagine shopping at a store without shopkeepers? Unmanned stores are stores operated round the clock without staff. Let's explore some different unmanned stores around the world.
South Korea - self-checkout stores
While unmanned stores in other countries are mainly convenience stores or grocery stores, there are almost all kinds of unmanned stores in South Korea. These include ice cream stores, coffee shops and copy shops. Customers choose what they want or enjoy self-service and then pay at the self-checkout counter. These stores heavily rely on CCTV cameras to prevent thefts.
The United States - checkout-free stores
In the United States, people can enter unmanned stores by checking in with their credit card or smartphone. Then, they can just grab any products and walk out. Payments are done automatically when they leave. This kind of unmanned store relies on cameras, sensors and smartphone-related technologies. The most well- known one is Amazon Go. Although checkout-free stores are convenient and safe, owners have to invest a lot.
China - mobile unmanned store
In Shanghai, a unique unmanned store underwent trial four years ago. Moby Mart was a checkout-free supermarket which drove to customers—without a driver! After making a request with the mobile application, the solar-powered store came to the customers. There was even a holographic shop assistant which greeted customers by their names.
■Gear up
Which of the following is true?
A. There are unmanned ice cream stores in South Korea.
B. Customers have to self-checkout at Amazon Go.
C. Moby Mart is in Beijing.
(Answer on next text)
■Glossary
round the clock (idiom) 不分晝夜
rely on(phr v) 依賴
mobile (adj) 流動的
holographic (adj) 3D全息投影的
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[Smarties' Power English 第356期]
