You’ve seen the self-service checkout kiosks at your local supermarket. An alternative to checkout lanes staffed by cashiers, they are introduced to offer customers more control, convenience, and a speedier checkout option. While retailers claim to install them to improve customer service, we also know these machines can help them redeploy their cashiers.

Not really intended for mothers with their hands full of bags and babies, the self-checkout option is meant for shoppers who want a quick exit, and prefer using the machines to dealing with store personnel. In a 2004 survey by research company IDC, respondents see the following key benefits of self-checkout kiosk:

A typical four-lane setup costs $125,000* to install - they certainly don’t come cheap! Current vendors include IBM, Fujitsu, NCR, and ECRS. Most self-checkout machines have the following basic functions:

1. Lane light / Store attendant call
2. Touch screen monitor
3. Basket stand
4. Barcode scanner cum weighing scale
5. Payment module
6. ATM PIN pad

* Source: www.darwinmag.com

The self-checkout procedure has 3 main stages, which are self-explanatory:

SCAN Users scan the items one-by-one using the barcode reader

BAG Users bag their items as they scan them

PAY Users make payment

The shopper is guided by images on the touchscreen monitor and a recorded voice prompt through the process. Sounds easy enough? Let’s try it!