Screenshot from a checkout terminal at Target (Milford MA). They use game mechanics (scoring / personal leaderboad) to encourage faster checkout times
See the DNA-esque string in the middle?
G = green = fast
R = red = slow(er)
Here's her last 10 check-outs - fast, except for a few random stragglers.. The big "G" is the prob the calculated average-time-per-checkout (last 10?) while total must be all 44 checkouts. I wonder what the 88% stands for...
Girl running the checkout scored a "G" on Chelsa - said the whole thing "makes work feel like a game" :)
Comments and faves
a o k added this photo to his favorites. (27 months ago)
nickgraywfu (27 months ago | reply)
Very cool capture, Dennis!
jsbn123 (27 months ago | reply)
Hey if you have any questions feel free to ask!
-jeff
dpstyles™ (27 months ago | reply)
hey josh - thx for the comment. how do you know so much about the system? and ps: is it just a "fast vs. slow" or is there a Y state too?
and is the rating based on number of items scanned per minute? e.g. more than 5 secs per item = "slow"?
jsbn123 (27 months ago | reply)
I work at Target and used to be a front end manager. There is a Y (yellow) "speed score" but it is not shown on the register. On the weekly cashier speed report yellow is between 80%-87% I believe.
The actual G/Y/R rating is created by a very elaborate timing setup. There is a specific amount of time allowed for each item scanned, with apparel and accessories (clothes) items being given more time then hard-lines items (stuff like food/toys/health/beauty).
Each form of payment also has different timing specifics. Check payments are given the longest time, and credit the shortest I believe. If you meet or exceed the goal time, you are scored with the giant "G" after the transaction. If not, you'll receive the giant "R" and death will swoop down upon you.
If all this isn't enough to drive you insane... the scores are also sent in real time to the front end supervisor and store leader on duty via their handheld device. As you can tell, cashier speed is of major importance to Target.
-jeff (not josh, but no biggie)
jsbn123 (27 months ago | reply)
Also, take a look at this photo from my photostream... it shows how cashiers can request other things from their supervisor from the "Help" button on the register.
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Riemer (26 months ago | reply)
obviously not played at the brooklyn target at the atlantic center
tryster0, ☸ Mathew Sanders, dgray_xplane, and Andy King added this photo to their favorites.
aliarose (26 months ago | reply)
HAHA. NOTHING is played at the target at atlantic center. Not the niceness game, not the helpfulness game, not the having-what-you-need-in-stock game, and certainly not the speediness game. Maybe G = "Gave you the finger" and R = "Rolled my eyes at you" at Target Atlantic Ctr.
presta (26 months ago | reply)
@Riemerr @aliarose Excellent.
capndesign, the_insomniac, joshwand, paulgorman, and Christopher Horrell added this photo to their favorites.
JonKean (26 months ago | reply)
Scoring cashiers on their performance is nothing new and practically all stores have metrics to rate checkout speed. Although having such a prominent and intricate scoring system is definitely new.
easement (26 months ago | reply)
I saw this at the Target in Washington, DC today and was wondering what it was all about.
daneelshof (26 months ago | reply)
Basically all metrics at Target are represented with these Green, Yellow, Red scores. Guest surveys, safety, response to clean the bathrooms, etc.
marcfonteijn and iamdanw added this photo to their favorites.
Ben Werdmuller (25 months ago | reply)
Really interesting. Thanks for the photo.
Thanks also for releasing it under a CC license. I've used it to illustrate a blog post about using game dynamics to drive community participation over here: benwerd.com/2010/01/using-game-dynamics-to-dr ive-particip...
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