Sam's Club is using AI to make the customer experience better. Here's how it works

Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer

One of the newest perks of becoming a Sam's Club member is exiting the store quickly.

That's because Sam's Club is introducing a new artificial intelligence feature to speed up customers' experience waiting in line for receipt verification when exiting the store.

The technology confirms customers have paid for all items in their carts without requiring an associate to manually check members' purchases upon exiting. Before the new digital tool, customers reportedly experienced wait times for exit greeters to complete receipt reviews.

More: 10 ways to save money with a Sam's Club membership

Is Sam's Club AI technology in Ohio locations yet?

The retail chain, owned by Walmart, announced Wednesday that the feature has been integrated in more than 120 Sam's Clubs since unveiling the AI concept in January. In a press statement, the company stated it plans to introduce the feature in nearly 600 clubs by the end of the year, including in Ohio locations "later this month through early fall," according to a company spokesperson who responded to the Enquirer.

In locations with the new AI tool, customers are leaving the club 23% faster, Sam's Club reported.

Sam's Club is introducing a new artificial intelligence tool to speed up customers' experience waiting for receipt verification at store exits.
Sam's Club is introducing a new artificial intelligence tool to speed up customers' experience waiting for receipt verification at store exits.

How does Sam's Club's new AI feature work?

After a customer checks out at a register or via Scan & Go, the AI tool verifies payment through "a combination of computer vision and digital technology," according to the company, capturing an image of the cart in the exit areas of the store. That way, customers can simply exit after checking out instead of having their purchases reviewed by an exit greeter.

Sam's Club is introducing a new artificial intelligence tool to speed up customers' experience waiting for receipt verification at store exits.
Sam's Club is introducing a new artificial intelligence tool to speed up customers' experience waiting for receipt verification at store exits.

Sam's Club locations in Ohio, NKY

Here is a complete list of all the Sam's Club locations in Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Ohio Sam's Club locations

  • Beavercreek, 3446 Pentagon Blvd.

  • Brooklyn, 10250 Brookpark Road

  • Canton, 4790 Portage St.

  • Chillicothe, 1270 N. Bridge St.

  • Cincinnati, 815 Clepper Lane and 5375 N. Bend Road

  • Columbus, 3950 Morse Road and 1755 Hilliard-Rome Road

  • Cuyahoga Falls, 1189 Buchholzer Boulevard

  • Dayton, 1111 Miamisburg-Centerville Road and 6955 Miller Road

  • Dublin, 5870 Sawmill Road

  • Fairlawn, 3750 W Market Street, Unit J

  • Lima, 1150 Greely Chapel Road

  • Mentor, 5600 Emerald Court

  • Oakwood Village, 23300 Broadway Ave.

  • Ontario, 1070 N Lexington Springmill Road

  • Reynoldsburg, 2675 Taylor Road

  • Sandusky, 614 Crossings Road

  • Sheffield Village, 5225 Cobblestone Road

  • South Point, 432 Private Drive.

  • Springdale, 800 Kemper Commons Circle

  • St. Clairsville, 50555 Valley Plaza Drive

  • Toledo, 1300 E. Mall Drive

  • Warren, 1040 Niles Cortland Rd. S.E.

  • Youngstown, 6361 South Ave.

  • Zanesville, 3724 Northpointe Drive

Northern Kentucky Sam's Club location

  • Florence, 4949 Houston Road

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: AI is coming to Sam’s Club: What it is, how it works — what we know

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