Walmart is handling self-checkout differently. Instead of just installing extra machines, they are mixing smart technology into the process. Artificial intelligence now helps run checkouts, shoppers can scan items on their phones while moving through aisles, and a few stores are testing systems where payment happens without scanning at all.

In places with higher theft rates, fewer standard kiosks stay open, while membership-only lines appear in select spots. These moves aim to cut losses, manage staff needs, and keep service steady. These changes show how big chains adapt when technology meets real-world challenges. Vendors who make kiosks, companies that supply point-of-sale tools, and retailers across the industry are paying close attention—what works here often spreads later.

Significant shifts are occurring in how Walmart manages its technology. Not long ago, they relied heavily on outside help; now, things are shifting toward keeping everything inside the company. NCR once played a larger role, but that influence is slowly fading into background duty as Walmart takes control of its own tech stack.

The Reality Check: Is Walmart Removing Self-Checkout?

Insight: Walmart is not ditching self-checkout in 2025. That idea mostly appears in headlines attempting to grab attention. While a few stores are tweaking operations, it doesn’t mean every location follows suit.

The company usually makes careful moves, adjusting slowly block by block rather than tearing everything down across the board. Some Walmart locations will continue with standard self-checkout, though a few are scaling back where theft spikes or lines become unmanageable. Rather than applying the same setup everywhere, adjustments depend on each store’s layout and loss patterns.

Behind these changes sits a mix of staffed registers, tech-enhanced kiosks using smart cameras, phone-based scanning, and even test runs without any checkout at all. Store type shapes what you’ll see up front—there is no longer a universal plan that fits every aisle.

Key Technology Changes (2024–2025)

Over the past 12 months, Walmart has made significant strides in advancing its checkout technology.

1. Checkout-Free Store Pilots and Computer Vision

One big shift involves testing checkout-free locations. These smart shops skip traditional lines entirely. Using cameras plus computer vision helps track items picked up by shoppers. One trial swaps out cashiers for “invisible” tech; as people exit, their bill adds up silently through sensor networks.

Stores watch movement, weight shifts on shelves, and even hand grabs. Behind the scenes, software connects each item to a shopper’s account. While this could save money on staff, it raises concerns about capital expenditure and personal data privacy.

2. AI-Powered Kiosks

Walmart is deploying checkout machines that think for themselves. Not only do they scan items automatically, but they also learn from mistakes. Cameras watch every move to spot when someone forgets to ring up a purchase or accidentally misidentifies an item. The system is getting sharper at distinguishing products—like telling apples from oranges—without user input.

3. Mobile Scan & Go Expansion

Now rolling into more locations, Walmart’s mobile scan feature lets shoppers tally purchases on their phones while moving through aisles. Payment happens inside the app after scanning each item, allowing customers to bypass old-style lines. This shifts the cost of hardware to the software ecosystem and speeds up the exit process.