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plondon514 | 11 months ago

In Japan right now and I see a ton of automation everywhere, self checkout at grocery stores and restaurants, but what you also see is a live humanbeing assigned to the machines to help you if you have issues.

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throwaway150|11 months ago

> In Japan right now and I see a ton of automation everywhere, self checkout at grocery stores and restaurants, but what you also see is a live humanbeing assigned to the machines to help you if you have issues.

Isn't that how self checkout happens in every part of the world that has self checkout? I'm failing to see what's special about self checkout in Japan.

klausa|11 months ago

Anecdotally, the staff:machines ratio is much lower here than I've seen in Europe or US, and they also just pay more attention, and are more proactive (you'll get staff at Muji making sure that you're aware that you can't check out tax-free).

The staff will also instantly materialize if they are needed to confirm you can buy alcohol, or there is some kind of problem; which is also not my experience elsewhere.

It's not a worldshattering difference, but it is noticeable.

OJFord|11 months ago

Ah, how much you (and we in the west) have to learn! This is the ancient Japanese art of serufuchekkuauto de no ningen no sapōto.

nicbou|11 months ago

Japan has a LOT of make-work jobs for the elderly.

yoyohello13|11 months ago

Isn’t that good?