The Evolution of Self-Checkout Technology
Self-checkout solutions are gaining validation for their mass deployment across retail, QSR and hospitality verticals. As industries change and adapt, so too SCO processes, technology, and offerings. Beyond Technology reached out to Craig Bevan, VP Sales Commercial Director for Acrelec Group, for his perspective on the self-checkout & self-service kiosk landscape.
“To the purist, a kiosk is something you’ll find in a fast-food restaurant,” Bevan said. “A self-checkout, you’ll see in a more traditional retail environment where typically it’s a smaller screen, and you scan and pay for your products. But, you know, there’s been a lot of changes, and those two technologies are merging.”
Some of the changes in technology that impact self-checkout and self-service kiosks are touchless experiences, which evolved out of increasing customer demand during the pandemic.
What Bevan enjoys about working for a company like Acrelec is that they deliver solutions for both SCO and self-service kiosks so they can create combined innovations utilizing the best of both worlds.
Different customer behaviors have also created a shift, and a need, for self-service kiosks and checkout options to be expected choices in stores. The growth of online shopping facilitated this expectation. If customers can order something online, then the store journey must be as easy for customers.
“Nowadays, when customers come into stores, they want those self-checkouts to reflect the brand,” Bevan said. “They want to walk in and have it be visually appealing.” The aesthetics and design of these devices must be part of the overall shopping experience.
