New shopping experiences with Self-Checkout

Self-Checkout (SCO) is an increasingly popular option for retailers to streamline the checkout stage of their customers’ shopping experience.

As with any new development, it has its pros and cons and ultimately the retailer will need to evaluate these in order to decide whether to implement this option in their shops or keep the traditional checkout.

Below, we look at the pros and cons of this system, so you can make an informed decision for your business.

The advantages of self-payment: convenience and efficiency at physical points of sale

Shopping in physical shops is a satisfying and enjoyable experience, but the checkout process can be lengthy and tedious during peak sales such as special occasions or sales.

The main advantage of SCO technology is that it removes this obstacle, allowing consumers to have a more efficient and convenient experience by optimising both their time and the time of in-store staff who can provide better service to customers in need of assistance.

Self-payment technology allows shoppers to pay with just a few clicks and automatically without having to wait in long queues for their turn at the checkout.

This makes the transaction much smoother and faster for those who prefer the traditional shopping experience.

Potential cons: customers who prefer to be served by a person or the resolution of errors

Self-payment can be convenient, but it also takes the customer away from the personalised attention that is usual in physical shops.
What happens if an error occurs during the payment process?

These errors can be as simple as a bad connection from the consumer’s card-issuing bank or a mis-referenced price in the system that can turn a quick and easy experience into a longer process that requires well-trained in-store staff to instantly resolve such issues.

How to achieve a better shopping experience with SCO and without friction

There are a number of ways retailers can address some of the major frictions related to Self-Checkout:

• Use advanced security technology to limit the amount of sensitive consumer information.
• Have supervisors monitor the process and quickly resolve any issues.
• Install RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) scanning systems that allow contactless identification to verify any discrepancies between scanned products and those actually purchased.

With a new consumer more attuned to technology and digital experiences, SCO is a very effective option for any retailer, and even for other sectors such as restaurants.

Avoiding long queues in shops is one of the keys to optimising the customer experience and, in turn, being able to serve more customers in physical shops.

On the other hand, the use of Self-Checkout can provide customers with a more personalised service and greater security in payment-related transactions.

How can retailers combine traditional checkout with Self-Checkout?

Retailers that offer both payment methods give their customers the opportunity to choose the option that suits them best in each situation, which increases the chances that they will have a positive experience and return in the future.

In the case of Self-Checkout, it is important that the payment process has clear instructions at each step to avoid confusion for consumers who are unfamiliar with the process and to have staff available to answer questions or solve problems if necessary.

With a good process and a tool like Openbravo that allows you to set up Self-Checkout without relying on a connection, you can offer better experiences to your customers who will appreciate the opportunity to save time by avoiding long checkout lines.