Self-service technology has been a huge part of the commercial industry through the years. Some examples are interactive map kiosks in malls, self-order stations in fast food chains, and many more.
One form of self-service technology that is slowly entering the mainstream league is self-checkout in grocery stores. In 2019, the shipment of self-checkout kiosks grew by 50% compared to 2018. Also, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. And people want as little interaction with others as possible. Thus, self-checkout counters have become more popular. Self-checkout counters are expected to reach 1.2 million units all over the U.S. by 2025.
There’s always a little hesitation with trying out new tech. The same is true with self-checkouts. For example, consumers and retail owners alike are concerned about both software and hardware issues that may arise. And self-checkout kiosks aren’t exactly affordable.
Still, a quick analysis of the benefits of self-service checkouts shows that retail owners will do well in embracing this technology.
How Self-checkout Works
The conventional self-checkout is quite easy. First, you bring all your items to the counter. If you have your own shopping bag, place it in the bagging area of the kiosk.
You need to scan the barcode of each item, one at a time. Place the items in your shopping bag. They will be weighed by the machine through this. This means you should keep the items in the bag until after payment. After you scan all items, the machine will show your total, and you can pay using your credit card or debit card.
In other stores, they use smart shopping carts instead of self-checkout kiosks. The cart has a barcode scanner, a tablet PC, and a built-in weighing scale. You need to scan an item before placing it in the cart to weigh. The smart shopping cart uses AI technology and a cloud photo drive. With these technologies, the smart cart identifies what the scanned item is through the barcode and flash its price and photo on the screen.
Benefits of Self-checkout
Investing in self-checkout kiosks will do your retail business good for many reasons.
Shortens Queue Time
Self-service checkout can often be faster than traditional cashier checkout. This is because customers don’t have to rely on someone to ring their items. They can do it themselves, at a quick pace if they’re really in a hurry. This benefit means shorter queue times in the grocery.
Saves space
Self-checkout counters are huge space savers. You need only a small space to set up a few counters as compared to the traditional checkout kiosks. As a result, you can maximize your storage space. For instance, you can put up more stalls for your products or set up promotional displays for marketing purposes.
Reduces Labor Costs
Each self-checkout counter doesn’t need a clerk to operate it. Instead, you can assign only one or two people to monitor several checkout counters in your store. These people will be responsible for addressing any issues with the system if they occur. Thus, your business can save money by reducing labor costs.
Improves Efficiency Among Staff
Since many of your staff members are relieved of cash register duty, they can focus on other tasks instead. For example, instead of manning the cashier or helping customers bag their items, staff members can organize stock shelves and keep them orderly and tidy to attract consumers. The staff can also focus on organizing the stockroom so that they can easily locate needed items.
Aligns with Customer Preference
Even though self-checkout technology is still relatively new, many consumers favor it. In a 2018 survey, 73% of the respondents were in favor of retail stores using self-checkout technologies. This is because self-checkout improves the shopping experience and reduces the need to interact with sales clerks. Also, as of December 2019, 47% of consumers in the U.S. use self-checkout regularly. Having self-checkout kiosks in your store can attract new customers and make old customers keep coming back.
Gives a Sense of Safety
Since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, people want to have as little interaction with people as possible. This is especially true in closed, public spaces like retail stores where there is a higher risk of transmission.
Self-checkout kiosks remove the need to interact with a cashier and a bagger. And as mentioned earlier, this technology can be faster. Thus, people won’t have to crowd checkout lanes. And they can properly observe physical distancing while queuing.
Self-checkout technology is the future of the retail industry. It’s convenient for both consumers and retail store owners.
