So Apple's potential use of self-checkout is being viewed as some amazing move? If this is the case, my local chain drugstore and supermarket are brilliant because they have had this in place for the last two years. I guess if they were employing some sort of NFC/pay-with-your-handset technology that could be considered something, but I don't see any mention of Apple doing that in this piece.
But it goes beyond that. Your local chains make you go through a pre-installed POS for payment. Square disrupted the POS by setting it free inside the store, each store rep armed with their own POS running on a smartphone. Apple, by doing this has eliminated traditionally held notions of a POS altogether.
The POS now runs inside YOUR Smartphone, inside their app. You can browse the aisles, take all the time you need and when ready, check out with out having to wait in line (which you still had to, at your local chain) and with out needing to find a store rep. That is why I called it as re-inventing the checkout experience. It didnt merely parallel the existing POS experience.
A grocery store is different. It may process anywhere from 1 to 100 items per person, some of whose prices will depend on weight. Your local chains will probably always make you go through a pre-installed POS for payment and you will probably always appreciate that fact. The volume is high enough to benefit greatly from specialized tools.
Apple can do this because it sells low-volume, predictably-priced items out of its stores. Theft is probably deterred largely by the expense of the items they sell accessories for; far fewer of their customers will want or need to steal. This is the next step for Apple. The next step for your grocery is to identify items automatically, sort and package for carryout.
The items Apple will start off with, are accessories which are low volume, lower priced. If theft in this scenario would be a problem tomorrow, then it should have been a problem today; as Apple only gives you an email receipt and I have not come across a scenario where I had to show the receipt on my way out. Hope that answers your question.
This move is only disruptive if it replaces a good chunk of current usage... without handling common and higher margin items, this is not going to disrupt anyone, just streamline Apple Store processes.
