Self checkout

Self-checkout (also known as self-service checkout and as semi-attended customer-activated terminal, SACAT) machines provide a mechanism for customers to process their own purchases from a retailer. They are an alternative to the traditional cashier-staffed checkout. In practice, the customer assumes the job of the cashier by scanning and applying payment for the items themselves.

As of 2013, there were 191,000 self-checkout units worldwide, with the number was estimated to reach 325,000 units by 2019. It was invented by David R. Humble.

In self-checkout systems, the customer is required to scan the barcodes themselves; input the types of items such as fruit and vegetable (usually with a touchscreen display); weigh them, if applicable; and place all scanned items into a "bagging area". The weight observed in the bagging area is verified against previously stored information to ensure that the correct item is bagged, allowing the customer to proceed only if the observed and expected weights match.

Payment by various methods may be accepted by the machines: card via EFTPOS, debit/credit cards, electronic food assistance cards, cash via coin slot and bank note scanner, and in-store gift cards where applicable. Most coupons also have barcodes and can be scanned the same way that items are scanned, although some require entry by a member of staff.

The benefit to the retailer in providing self-checkout machines is in reduced labour costs: one attendant can often run four to six checkout lanes with the work of the cashier now being assumed by the customer. The size of a self-checkout machine is also smaller than a traditional checkout manned by a cashier; thus, a store can save space to use in more shelves, display cabinets or additional checkouts.

Customers who do not want to interact with the cashier can use the self checkout to avoid those situations.

Self-checkout can also sometimes be faster than using a cashier lane. This can reduce the length of checkout lines and wait times. In a survey by NCR, 42% of customers said they like the convenience of self-checkout, while 39% said it was faster than the cashier-assisted line. 90% of those surveyed responded as being users of self-checkout, with 7% of respondents saying they will always use self-checkout regardless of store lines and number of items. Survey respondents in Italy and Australia stated they "always use self-checkout" at a rate of 13% and 9% respectively.

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Wikipedia