What: Target is following the current trend among US retailers to slash on self-checkout.

Why it is important: Once hailed as the Holy Grail for margin and cost control, self-checkout is actually creating new problems per se.

Target is introducing an "express self-checkout" nationwide, limiting purchases to 10 items at these registers to speed up checkout lines. This adjustment, starting March 17, accompanies the opening of more staffed lanes. The change reflects Target's strategy to balance customer experience with operational efficiency, amidst broader retail industry debates on the role of self-service in customer service and theft prevention.

Target is reducing ambitions on self-checkout