Day After Employees Vote to Unionize, Target Announces Fleet of Robot Workers [View all]
Just a day after pharmacy workers from a Brooklyn Target store formed a union, the company announced plans to replace employees with robot workers in the near future.
Last week it was reported that the pharmacists had submitted their initial “microunion” filing with the National Labor Relations Board after an initial ballot vote was passed 7 -2. The filing was noteworthy as the workers become the first union at any Target store since the retailer opened in 1902.
Yet, less than a week later, in a seemingly unrelated press release, Casey Carl, the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at Target announced the company’s plan to develop automation systems and replace workers with robots in their retail locations as part of a new program with Techstars, an industry leader with a reputation for accelerating startups.
“We know that technology will continue to revolutionize retail, and that Target’s future will be built on innovation. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with Techstars and invite the world’s most promising startups to work with Target right in our backyard.”
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Target is planning to test robot workers
The retailer has teamed up with startup Techstars to improve the shopper experience, according to Fortune
Most notably, Target is working on a "concept store" that will open within in one to two years. This store might include robots.
Hardware store chain Lowe's has already been testing robots that can find and retrieve items.
“We know that technology will continue to revolutionize retail, and that Target’s future will be built on innovation,” Casey Carl, Target’s chief strategy and innovation officer, said in a press release.
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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-planning-test-robot-workers-153859756.html
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