As more retailers offer shoppers the ability to order items online and pick them up at their local store, there’s just one problem – someone in the store has to go find all the requested items and gather them up so they’re ready when the shopper arrives. And in a busy short-staffed store, who has time to do all that? Some stores might have to hire additional employees, or run the risk of disappointing shoppers who show up and find out their orders aren’t ready.
So IBM is proposing a new way – getting other shoppers to do the work, by bribing them with coupons. Here’s a link to the article, but honestly, sounds just like a way to let stores get away with hiring fewer employees and making you pay for the privilege.