The Wall Street Journal, today, featured checkout systems that allow customers to use hand held scanners while they shop, minimizing their checkout time and allowing the retailer to present them with coupons/incentives based on goods they are purchasing. The results: customers spend more and enjoy the “control”

Retailers also claim these systems free up employees to provide better customer service and better compete with the speed and ease of online shopping. At Jack, we have worked with a number of clients where we’ve recommended technology to streamline the customer shopping experience. It’s surprising that it has taken this long for big-box retailers to take advantage of these systems considering the immediate positive return. The challenge will be to maintain focus on other areas of the customer shopping experience when the possibility exists to cut employee numbers rather than re-deploying them.

By Ray Perfetti | Studio Manager NY