London-based research firm forecasts self-checkout deployments to nearly triple globally by 2012

NCR Corporation ranks number one worldwide in the self-checkout market, according to Retail Banking Research (RBR), a strategic research and consulting firm headquartered in London.

The newly published “Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2009” report from RBR shows that the adoption of self-checkout solutions – which enable shoppers to scan, bag and pay for goods themselves – has accelerated over the last two years. In addition, RBR predicts that the installed base of self-checkouts is due to nearly triple by 2012 to reach 250,000 units globally.

More than 140 retailers from 12 different retail segments and over 20 countries use NCR SelfServ™ Checkout. NCR attributes its market leadership to its track record of continuous innovation and a consultative approach to helping retailers meet key business objectives with their self-checkout strategies.

“Two out of three self-checkouts shipped in the last five years are from NCR,” said Mike Webster, NCR vice president and general manager for Retail and Hospitality. “This includes a ‘who’s who’ list of retailers. They value NCR’s relentless focus on improving store productivity and customer service levels. We are achieving this not only through innovations in the technology itself, but also the way in which it is deployed and managed.”

Prior to a deployment, NCR’s Customer Experience Consulting team looks at traffic patterns through the store’s existing checkouts and the floor space they occupy. The consultants are then able to model the optimum mix of assisted- and self-service lanes and their ideal location to minimize queuing at peak times.

Stores that deploy NCR SelfServ Checkout are able to make more checkouts – assisted-service plus self-service lanes – available to reduce one of shoppers’ top frustrations, the time they spend waiting in line. NCR self-checkout customers report checkout wait times in their stores are reduced as much as 40 percent.

“Consumers tend to shop where they know they can get out of the store quickly and easily,” Webster continued. “Since self-checkout enables them to do just that, it can help build customer and brand loyalty, which is important in today’s competitive marketplace.”

NCR believes the current challenging economic conditions will provide a stimulus to the wider adoption of self-checkouts. Because one cashier can manage four or more self-checkouts, the technology frees up staff to meet customer demand for improved service levels in-store.