Content supplied by CBE:
The Case for Self-Checkout in Convenience Stores
It all starts with some fundamental questions:
1 - Why install Self-Checkout?
2 – What is in it for me, the retailer?
3 - What does the customer expect?
The primary motivation to install Self-Checkout (SCO) is the impact on labour hours. This does not mean getting rid of staff but redeploying them to become more customer-focused. It is generally accepted that installing SCO’s will reduce the costs to 'man' a traditional checkout.
The living wage has had a significant and negative impact on costs, and margins have been squeezed as a result of this. Therefore, steps must be taken to improve sales and margins.
The broad consensus of opinion is that shopping behaviours are changing. What is of fundamental importance is the need for retailers to adapt to attract new customers and retain those that they already have. Measures to achieve this may be introducing creative promotions to draw customers in and then providing a wow experience once instore. Part of this is the physical store, the staff, and the ranges.
Customers want to shop, checkout, and get on their way. Customers want to be in control of their own shopping journey and limiting the number of times products are handled by other people.
Since the arrival of Covid-19 customers want to have less interactions with cash, leading to a considerable increase in contactless and card payments. This has enabled Card-Only Self-Checkouts to become more relevant than ever.
Hygiene and Employee safety around Self-Checkout
During the current global pandemic of Covid-19, consumers are taking every precaution to protect themselves and their families. It is imperative that consumers can check out using unattended shopping for their health and safety, as well as the health and safety of tireless grocery workers. Card-Only Self-Checkouts provide many benefits to both the consumer and the retailer. Customers are in control of their shopping and considerably reduce contact within a store. Having Card-Only Self-Checkouts significantly reduces labour for Cash Office personnel, while also limiting their interaction with notes & coins.
CBE supply a RAP (Remote attendant Program) Station that enables the Self-Checkout attendant to support all activity from one location, complying with the recommended social distancing and eliminating all physical contact with the Self-Checkout units.
For more information, please visit: https://cbesoftware.co.uk/
