Dollar General’s New Cashierless Store Could Change Shopping Forever

LOUISIANA - Standing in line at the checkout could eventually become a thing of the past, at least if Dollar General's latest experiment proves successful.

Dollar General is testing a completely cashier-less shopping experience at one of its stores, giving customers the ability to walk in, grab what they need, and leave without ever scanning a single item.

The company says it's simply testing the concept for now, but it's another sign that the future of grocery and convenience shopping continues to evolve.

How Dollar General's Cashierless Store Works

The pilot store is located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, where Dollar General has partnered with AI technology company AiFi to power the shopping experience.

Instead of stopping at a traditional register, or even using self-checkout, customers enter the store, shop normally, and simply walk out once they're finished.

READ MORE: Mandatory Discount for Using Self Checkout - It Could Become Law

Artificial intelligence, cameras, and sensors identify the products each shopper selects, automatically charging the customer's payment method after they leave the store.

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Dollar General Says It's Just A Test

Before you start worrying whether every Dollar General is about lose its checkout lanes, the company says that's not the plan.

According to Dollar General, this is a pilot program designed to learn how customers respond to the technology. The retailer has said there are currently no plans to roll the concept out to more locations.

READ MORE: What to Expect When Trader Joe's Opens in Lafayette

What say you? Do you think Dollar General should open more of these types of stores?

@destinyollis You’ve gotta come see it and try it out for yourself! ☺️. #appalachia#eaglesnest#northcarolina♬ original sound - Destiny Ollis

Could Louisiana Dollar General Stores Eventually Get This Technology?

Louisiana is home to hundreds of Dollar General stores, many serving small towns and rural communities where the retailer has become a convenient stop for groceries, household items, and everyday essentials.

There's no indication that any Louisiana stores will receive the cashier-less technology anytime soon.

Still, if the Banner Elk, North Carolina pilot proves successful and customers embrace the experience, it's easy to imagine Dollar General exploring similar concepts in other markets down the road.

For now, Louisiana shoppers will still be checking out the old-fashioned way. Dollar General's latest test may only involve a single store today, but it's another glimpse at where retail technology could be headed in the years ahead.