Self Checkout Relieves Pressure at the Front End
Thirty-five percent of shoppers say their supermarket did not have enough cashiers on duty when they shopped, reports a recent Harris Interactive survey.
Self checkout technology is not new, but more retailers are the equipment. According to ACNielsen’s Spring 2002 Consumer Insight there are benefits for retailers and consumers alike if self checkouts become widespread. For one, retailers can lower their front-end labor costs.
Studies have shown that the self-checkout process itself is not a time saver
for consumers. Systems of this type are said to work well with small to medium
size grocery loads. Large orders can be problematic. Consumer perception equals
reality however and shoppers believe they get out of the store quicker using
a self checkout.
Moderator Comment: Do self-checkouts and other technologies
deliver the benefits of “more satisfied consumers, lower labor turnover rates
and more accurate inventory management” to retailers as indicated in the Consumer
Insights’ Trendwatch article?
Anderson’s Law: If no one is in front of you than self-checkout
is the way to go. If someone is already scanning items ahead of you, their technical
difficulties will make you wish you could abandon your cart without anyone noticing.
[George
Anderson – Moderator]