Ensuring that shop and scan works for your customers
Another step in improving the customer experience has been the advent of in-store systems that enable customers to take goods off the shelf and scan them as they shop using a handheld scanner.
Inspired by the expansion Amazon Go's 'shop and just walk out’ concept, retailers have been drawn to the idea of offering a frictionless customer experience, with self-scanning to a smartphone seen as a way of offering a similar customer experience at a fraction of the cost.
Such shop and Scan systems allow customers to pack shopping directly into their own bags as they shop, removing the need to unload and repack it all again at the checkout. And, with payments made directly via the customer’s account in a smartphone app, they even eliminate the need to queue and pay at the checkout. And it’s an idea that’s gaining traction, with 57% of retailers reporting that customers prefer to use the safety of a smartphone app rather than using store-owned scanners.6
Retailers also recognise a growing trend for customers to gather information that helps them make informed choices about the products they are buying. By scanning product barcodes in-store, customers can now have that information delivered directly to their smartphone screen.6 But, in order for that information to be accurate, it’s important that self-printed barcode labels are both robust and readable.
Given the increase in customer convenience - and the easy delivery of information - 60% of retailers are either already offering self-scanning or looking to launch it imminently. 6
Self-scanning customer experience is only as good as the quality of your labels
It’s clear that self-scanning retail solutions are set to become mainstream in the future. But if Self Checkout and Shop and Scan systems are to become the norm, their success depends on how quickly and reliably customers can scan their shopping and process their payment.
Ultimately, any self-scanning system is only as good as the quality of the barcodes it’s asked to scan.
When selecting label printers for loose goods or shelf-ends, we recommend those that offer clear readability and are smudge resistant.
Brother's range of hard-working, hard-wearing mobile printers are built for everyday use on the busiest shop-floors - letting you create the crisp, clear barcodes your customers need to take full advantage of your Self Checkout or Shop and Scan system.
Find out today how Brother has helped a wide range of retailers to overcome challenges of all shapes and sizes. Visit our retail business solutions.
Sources
1. https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1465226/shoppers-queue-only-five-minutes
2. https://www.dssmith.com/packaging/about/media/news-press-releases/2021/7/the-birth-of-fusion-shopper
3. https://www.ccv.eu/en/2021/consumers-take-the-lead-with-self-service/
4. https://www.digimarc.com/blogs/AI-Self-Checkout-Big-for-European-Retailers
5. https://www.kbvresearch.com/europe-self-checkout-systems-market/
6. https://www.scandit.com/blog/european-retailers-recognize-its-time-to-scan-go/