A new generation of grab and go checkouts are on the rise in retail

Self-checkout devices, first launched in 1986, were praised by merchants for increasing efficiency, lowering labor costs, and enhancing speed. These machines used the same barcodes to scan products as staffed checkout lanes; the main distinction was that they gave the consumer complete control over their checkout experience. However, shops throughout the world are beginning to abandon this old kind of self-checkout since, in many cases, it has become a significant contributor to shrinkage due to rising larceny and consumer mistake rates.

According to a National Retail Federation research, merchants lost more than $112 billion in 2022 due to shrinkage. As retailers worldwide seek innovative ways to increase loss prevention and minimize shrink, big stores such as Walmart, Target, and Costco have limited the number of accessible barcode scanning self-checkout scanners and, in some cases, discontinued usage of the devices entirely.

Instead, many stores are opting to RAIN RFID-powered self-checkout, which improves automation and accuracy while also increasing speed and reducing customer-employee contact. Top merchants are already implementing RAIN RFID to create new self-checkout methods. This new wave of automated self-checkouts, which eliminate the need to manually scan individual barcodes, is only going to become more popular among merchants trying to expedite the checkout process, boost loss prevention, and provide consumers with accurate and speedy transactions.

Do the hazards of traditional self-checkout devices outweigh the benefits?
In a period of economic uncertainty, businesses prioritize sales growth while seeking to improve the whole shopping experience. The standard self-checkout procedure requires the consumer to manually scan each product, with on-screen instructions and voice-activated aids to help the shopper during the transaction. This approach enabled businesses to redeploy personnel to other sections of the store while still offering consumers the choice of an interaction-free checkout. Because of the pandemic-induced labor crisis, businesses began to depend more heavily on self-checkout technologies as employment stalled in 2020 and stores sought to limit in-person interaction.

To fight rising rates of theft and human error, several businesses have resorted to expand the number of personnel required to supervise consumers at self-checkout lines. Many consumers express dissatisfaction with inefficient self-checkout systems that place an additional load on them while frequently needing human assistance to scan and bag products and complete their purchase.

Sustainable tracking technology replaces traditional self-checkout systems.
With so many hazards and issues for both shops and customers, it’s no surprise that traditional self-checkouts are coming under more scrutiny. However, a new “grab and go” self-checkout experience powered by RAIN RFID uses sophisticated tagging and tracking technology to automatically discover and recognize items. Shoppers may easily get what they need without having to wait in large lines or pay with a real card, cash, or check.

This enjoyable shopping experience is made possible by using RAIN RFID tagging and scanning to uniquely identify each item. The elements are recognized throughout the product’s existence. Furthermore, the tags are tiny and use radio waves instead of batteries to power them.

Previously, loss prevention depended on blaring sirens and increased security presence at store doors. With the deployment of RAIN RFID, retailers now have more visibility over their inventory and stock – both on the shop floor and in warehouses.

Uniqlo, Decathlon, and Inditex are among the leading retailers who have already used RAIN RFID-based self-checkout as a replacement for traditional self-checkout systems. Uniqlo, a worldwide retailer headquartered in Japan, has integrated RAIN RFID chips inside price tags on their merchandise. This has enabled the retailer to monitor every item from warehouses to manufacturers, and finally to their hundreds of stores across the world. Since using RAIN RFID in 2017, Uniqlo has reported fewer goods out of stock in shops and a more positive overall consumer experience.

Amazon has also announced and implemented its Just Walk Out technology, which includes RAIN RFID tagging and reading, to an increasing number of sports venues, eliminating the need for traditional self-checkout systems.

RAIN RFID is accelerating retail transformation beyond self-checkout by increasing inventory accuracy and visibility, as well as addressing retailers’ top goals for 2024, such as loss prevention and shrink, faster delivery, and delivering real-time analytics. In an era when retailers have typically not moved as quickly technologically as their customers, RAIN RFID is assisting retailers in better meeting their customers’ evolving needs, providing a seamless shopping experience that gives shoppers the convenience, privacy, and control they desire over their purchases. Uniqlo, Decathlon, and Inditex are among the leading retail firms actively attempting to modernize the sector with RAIN RFID.