Costco Is Rolling Out a Scan & Go System—Finally

Costco is shaking things up, and it’s looking to rival Sam’s Club for inspiration. During the company’s third-quarter earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris teased new technology aimed at making checkout faster and more convenient for members.

“We found that digital really enhances the speed of checkout, and so we are really working hard on the digital membership card usage,” Vachris said, according to Business Insider. But what really caught attention was his comment that Costco has “engaged in some scan-and-go, done by Costco,” a phrase strikingly similar to Sam’s Club’s Scan & Go system.

While details remain scarce, Costco’s Same-Day website offers a glimpse into what’s ahead. A feature called “Scan & Pay,” available at select locations through its partnership with Instacart, allows shoppers to scan items with their phones as they shop. The app then generates a QR code, which is scanned at the exit to confirm purchases—no cashier required.

Sam’s Club has already gone all-in on this type of technology, removing traditional checkout lanes at locations like its Grapevine, Texas store. The streamlined shopping experience has earned the Walmart-owned chain high marks for customer satisfaction, even surpassing Costco in recent rankings.

Costco, long known for its no-frills approach and loyal member base, appears to be listening to the increasing demand for faster, more tech-friendly shopping. Social media has been buzzing with calls for Costco to adopt similar technology, and Scan & Pay could be the company’s first step toward a more modern shopping experience.

While it’s not yet clear how widely Costco will implement these changes, it's clear that the warehouse shopping game is evolving, and Costco is getting ready to play catch-up.