Self Service Cashier Machine in-depth Demand Report

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, New York - Customers at Stew Leonard's grocery store in Palisades, New Jersey, are using self-checkout kiosks. As retailers navigate through one of the busiest times of the year, self-checkout faces various challenges.

New York (AP) - The promise of self-checkout is enticing: customers can scan and bag their own items to avoid long lines, workers can be freed from mundane tasks, and retailers can save on labor costs. But along with all that has come since the introduction of self-checkout, there are issues: customers complain about clunky technology issuing mysterious error codes, workers must stand around monitoring humans and machines, and retailers grapple with theft. Self-checkout was first tested in supermarkets in the late 1980s and gained momentum 20 years ago. But three years ago, grocers ramped up efforts to address the severe labor shortages brought on by the pandemic. Nevertheless, self-checkout hasn't disappeared, especially as labor shortages persist. And many people like it. A 67-year-old woman says she enjoys shopping at Stop & Shop because of its "scan and go" technology, allowing her to scan items with a device while shopping and then tally up the bill. She can pay at either a self-service terminal or a staffed checkout. Retailers have been adding cameras or sensors to checkout kiosks to monitor shoppers. For example, Kroger has deployed artificial intelligence technology in most stores, which triggers alerts when issues arise. For instance, if a shopper fails to successfully scan a particular item, the system will flag the error on the screen and prompt the customer to rectify it themselves. If the customer is unable to resolve the issue independently, a beacon above the self-checkout station will flash to attract the attention of staff. More advanced technologies have been making strides. Bernadette Christian, 59, works at Giant Food in Clinton, Maryland, overseeing six self-service stations. She says she doesn't dare help or confront shoppers, who she says have become angrier since the pandemic. "For us, when cashiers would be easy, and a lot safer in today's world," she said.

Project Background

Sinopec's gas stations are located all over the country, with huge daily traffic, and the challenge is how to improve service efficiency and customer experience. Traditional gas station services require multiple windows to operate at the same time, including gas payment, gas card recharge, merchandise purchase, and invoice printing, which often leads to long queues between different service windows.



Project Objective

In order to optimize customer experience and improve work efficiency, the SOE client aimed to develop an integrated multi-functional self-service terminal. The terminal needs to fulfill multiple services in a gas station scenario, including gas payment, gas card recharge, merchandise payment, and invoice printing. The goal of the self-service terminal was to enable users to complete all services quickly, thereby reducing queuing time and improving the overall operational efficiency of the gas station.



Technical Challenges

Functional Integration: Integrating multiple services from a traditional gas station into a single device to ensure ease of operation and efficiency.

Ease of use and accessibility: The device needed to provide an easy-to-understand and easy-to-operate interface for all users, including older or technologically unfamiliar users.

The Solution



This product is placed in the Sinopec gas station EasyJet, to solve the problem of user gas payment, gas card recharge, circle storage, commodity payment, invoicing, etc., greatly improving the efficiency of the gas station, while facilitating the user gas queue, invoicing queue, etc.



Hardware Configuration: The equipment is equipped with hardware facilities such as 32-inch touch screen, fuel card reader, card dispenser, thermal printer, code scanner, ID card reading module and binocular camera to ensure that it can meet various payment and service functions.

Software development: The device adopts the Android operating system, which provides an intuitive and easy-to-use user interface, ensuring that customers can quickly familiarize themselves with and use the various functions of the device.

Appearance design: While maintaining versatility, the engineers designed a modern aesthetic and ergonomic novel appearance, making the device not only practical but also blending in with the gas station environment.

Results and Benefits

Improved customer experience: The self-service terminal simplified the operation process for customers, shortened their stay at the gas station, and increased customer satisfaction.

Improved efficiency: The successful deployment of the terminals enabled gas station staff to assign tasks more efficiently, reducing reliance on human resources.

Reduce costs and increase efficiency: The use of self-service terminals reduces labor costs at gas stations, while bringing in additional revenue streams through features such as advertisement broadcasting.

Strengthening brand image: This modernized service enhances SINOPEC's brand image and establishes its position as an industry innovator.

The introduction of self-service terminals not only addresses the immediate needs of gas stations, but also lays the foundation for its long-term digital transformation and service model innovation. With the development of technology, this solution is expected to be rolled out industry-wide, further enhancing the service quality and efficiency of the energy industry.

AI and data are critical tools for success In a subject familiar to data scientists

The vast amount of customer and operational data that modern technology (including POS systems, analytics stacks, security systems, etc.) can generate may be both useful and overwhelming. Any amount of data is only available when it becomes actionable information, so make sure (a) your systems can communicate with each other, (b) they are generating useful output, and (c) you are sharing data fairly and complying with regulations between your operations and partner ecosystems. That's why careful selection of software stacks and partners is an integral part of success.

Micro-markets are key to self-service success According to Phil Deckers

Director of Technology Solutions at global convenience service provider Sodexo InReach, in a post-COVID world, micro-markets are gaining ground, with data and AI playing a crucial role in optimization. AI has proven to be a crucial tool that can handle all this data and combine it with geographical, demographic, Nielsen, and IRI marketing data to gain insights, enabling scientific experimentation for product optimization and new strategies. "Data-driven decision-making" has long been a mantra in the IT world.

Retail self-service is on the rise Especially for large retailers

as other departments are asked to "fill in" kiosk needs, rather than being led by executives dedicated to kiosks, "finding someone who is focused on what you're trying to accomplish in what you sell is very difficult; it's always someone else's job. In the grocery and restaurant space, linking your self-service terminals to your brand's loyalty program is an effective way to bring reciprocal customer traffic back to your stores; however, if the relevant departments are not streamlined in this way, you will feel a headache." "Right now, you just plug them in and leave, and then you hope for the best, and sometimes it works very well. But, clearly, the future is integration with retailers, and I'll use Kroger again, [a brand with one of the most successful loyalty programs]." How do you plug in? Savvy self-service terminal operators need to know how to build relationships with the right people and departments in the retailers (or chain restaurants) they work with while striving for a simplified future.



Finding a Balance Between Self-Service and Warmth



A few days ago, I was looking at a coffee solution where you have your beans to cup, and you have your barista on-site. If my barista is going to make the same four drinks as the beans to cup, why do I have someone there? It's about doing the habitual things, it's about putting a smile on someone's face. This is where you get this balance, using your grab-and-go as a disruptor. It's a great use for expansion. Or leverage markets to expand your footprint, as you don't need everyone to come to one place, but you can do a distributed market across the whole campus.




























全球便利服务提供商索迪斯 InReach 技术解决方案总监表示，在后疫情时代，微型市场正在取得进展，数据和人工智能在优化中发挥着至关重要的作用。

In recent years, the prominence of self-service kiosks stems from the overwhelming benefits they offer to both businesses and consumers. These benefits include, but are not limited to:


Upselling - Customers tend to opt for larger options when interacting with interactive screens, spending an additional £3 to £5 on average.


Efficiency - Fewer staff are required to handle large volumes of orders, freeing up staff time to enhance customer service and reduce waiting times.


Customer Flow - Customers are more likely to place orders at self-service terminals rather than directly with staff; in venues adopting self-service terminal technology, 89% of orders are completed via self-service terminal devices.





The Impact of Automation on Fast Food


Automation, led by self-service ordering kiosks, is fundamentally transforming the fast-food industry. These kiosks minimize human errors, improve order accuracy, and promote upselling and cross-selling through targeted recommendations, thereby contributing to increased average check rates. Representing fast-food automation, self-service kiosks not only enhance the customer experience but also optimize operational efficiency, resulting in a win-win situation for both customers and restaurant owners.


Self-service kiosks also offer long-term advantages for restaurants. They provide valuable insights into customer preferences, popular menu items, and peak ordering times, enabling wiser business decisions. Over time, these data can assist in adjusting marketing efforts, refining menus, and optimizing staff allocation. Additionally, the consistent and efficient service provided by kiosks can enhance customer loyalty and strengthen brand reputation.


Accelerating Order Speed with Self-Service Terminals


If throughput during busy periods is a concern, self-service kiosks can address this issue. They can efficiently serve customers during the busiest times of the day. Importantly, self-service terminals are faster at any time of day, reducing total order times by up to 40% in quick-service environments. Customers can receive their food faster, allowing restaurants to serve more guests within the same timeframe.



Self-service ordering kiosks are changing the fast-food industry, seamlessly integrating efficiency, convenience, and technological innovation.

For restaurant owners, these selfservice terminals are not just tools for streamlining operations but also strategic assets for attracting and retaining customers in a fiercely competitive market. Looking to the future, it's evident that these kiosks are more than just a passing trend; they are the cornerstone of the next phase of development in the fast-food industry, marking a transformation for the entire restaurant sector itself.














随着时间的推移，这些数据可以帮助调整营销工作、完善菜单和优化员工配置。

A breakthrough modular self-ordering system that promises to redefine how restaurants around the world operate, addressing the sustainability and efficiency challenges of the foodservice industry.



The Future of Sustainable Restaurant Technology
The FlexiDine system represents a paradigm shift in self-service technology. Unlike traditional self-ordering systems, it can be eliminated if only one component fails, and its innovative design features:
- Tool-free modular components that can be replaced or upgraded in less than 5 minutes
- Compatible with a wide range of payment processors, display sizes and peripherals**
- AI-ready architecture to support future software enhancements

Early testing in the industry shows 40% lower maintenance costs and 75% faster repairs than traditional systems.



Addressing Key Industry Challenges
Restaurants face the following challenges:
- Rising e-waste from unrepairable kiosks
- Soaring labor costs
- Growing demand for contactless solutions



LKS’s design directly addresses these issues through:

1. Circular Economy Design: 95% recyclable materials and component-level repairability
2. Workforce Optimization: Reduced employee training needs, enabling 24/7 operations
3. Hybrid Ordering: Seamlessly switch between touch, voice, and mobile app interfaces



Market Potential and Industry Applications
Industry analysts predict that the modular kiosk market will account for 35% of the global self-service market by 2026**. Early adopters report:
- 22% increase in average order value through AI-driven upsells
- 30% increase in customer throughput during peak hours
- 60% reduction in hardware replacement costs

This is more than just a kiosk, it’s a sustainable business platform