Self-checkout
Self-checkout refers to automated retail kiosks that allow customers to scan item barcodes, verify produce weights, consolidate purchases, and process payments independently, thereby reducing dependence on staffed cashier lanes.[1] These systems typically feature touchscreen interfaces, barcode scanners, bagging areas, and integrated payment terminals supporting cash, card, or digital methods.[2] Introduced commercially in supermarkets during the late 1990s, self-checkout technology proliferated in the 2000s as retailers sought to cut labor expenses and accelerate transaction throughput, with global market value reaching $3.87 billion by 2022 and projected compound annual growth of 13.4% through the decade.[3] Empirical analyses indicate average transaction times of about two minutes per customer versus over ten minutes at traditional checkouts, alongside higher average basket values due to expedited processing.[4][5] However, adoption has encountered substantial hurdles, including technical glitches prompting assistance calls and elevated error rates from user mishandling.[6] A primary controversy surrounds shrinkage, or inventory loss, where studies document self-checkout lanes incurring up to 16 times the theft rate of manned ones, equating to 3.5% of sales in affected transactions and comprising 39% of certain grocery shrink.[7][8][9] This has prompted reversals by major chains, limiting or removing units amid unchecked external theft and intentional misscans, despite initial promises of efficiency gains.[10][6] While proponents cite consumer preference—43% overall, rising among younger demographics—causal evidence underscores that unmonitored self-service amplifies opportunistic losses without commensurate productivity boosts in many implementations.[11][12]