The term "Self Checkout" refers to a process in retail where customers independently scan, pay for, and complete their purchases using dedicated terminals or kiosks—without direct assistance from checkout staff. The aim is to speed up the checkout process, optimize staffing resources, and offer a modern, convenient shopping experience.
Product Scanning and Recognition: Capturing items using barcode scanners or image recognition to automatically identify products.
Price and Discount Calculation: Automatic application of pricing, discounts, promotional offers, and loyalty card benefits to scanned items.
Payment Processing: Integration of various payment options including debit/credit card, mobile payments, vouchers, or contactless transactions.
User Guidance and Assistance: Intuitive user interfaces with multilingual support, error prompts, and optional remote assistance from staff.
Cart Verification and Consistency Checks: Ensuring that scanned items are correctly placed in the cart (e.g., weight verification on the platform).
Receipt Printing: Automatic printing of receipts or digital delivery via email or QR code.
Integration with Inventory Systems: Real-time communication with inventory or POS systems for stock updates and sales tracking.
Security Functions: Use of cameras, sensors, and AI-based detection to prevent theft and misuse.
A supermarket provides customers with terminals to scan and pay for their groceries on their own.
In a hardware store, customers use mobile scanning apps to record products directly on the shelf and pay at an express terminal.
A clothing store offers contactless payment through self-checkout with automatic removal of security tags.
An airport kiosk allows travelers to use self-service terminals to purchase snacks, drinks, and travel accessories 24/7.
A furniture store includes self-checkout options in its self-service pick-up areas for independent item verification and payment.