Abstract
This IDC study analyzes consumers opinions about self checkout and retailers adoption of it. In
2003, IDC published a white paper on self-checkout systems that analyzed the progression of the
related technologies along the adoption curve. Our findings indicated an overwhelmingly positive
response among both retailers and consumers utilizing self-checkout technology. To follow up this
research, IDC conducted surveys with 6,359 consumers in the United States, the United Kingdom,
Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan to gauge their use of and opinions about self-checkout systems.
IDC also surveyed six retailers that have already implemented such systems to learn about their
business cases and best practices.
IDC interviewed consumers to better understand their usage and opinions of self checkout with
respect to the following topics:
- Perceived benefits of self-checkout systems
- Most important store attributes to consumers
- Additional self-service device preferences
This document also provides qualitative information gathered from retailers that have implemented
self-checkout systems. The following retailer topics were included:
- Implementation and adoption of self-checkout systems
- Customer usage and feedback
- Benefits and results of self-checkout systems
- Best practices of retailers that have implemented self-checkout systems
- Additional self-service technology
"Beyond accelerated adoption of self-checkout systems in the near term, retailers can expect
to reap even greater benefits than simply pure customer transaction and front-end measures,"
said Meredith Whalen, IDC group vice president, U.S. Vertical Research. |