Tomorrow’s store is being shaped by new behaviours, needs and demand from shoppers. From supermarkets to convenience stores, the post office and even restaurants, self-checkout systems are becoming a permanent fixture in the shopping environment. Which is no great surprise when 63% of consumers state that they prefer self-service over service. Studies also indicate that as consumers, we perceive value from taking control of the transaction and this sense of increased control can lead to greater customer satisfaction and increased customer loyalty.
One of the most significant benefits of self-service shopping is the convenience of checkout speed. Imagine grabbing the grocery items you need for dinner, skipping the checkout line and walking out the door. While some demographics might not be drawn to such a transaction, Millennials are known to prefer it. In fact, one recent study showed that nearly half of U.S. shoppers under the age of 45 want stores to offer self-checkout.
There are also benefits to the merchant itself. As customers shop, their browsing history, traffic patterns, purchase history and literally hundreds of other factors can be gathered by the merchant. Add in a proper data scientist, and priceless trends and behaviours can be identified and made actionable.
Currently, there is a general decline in labour availability: in several parts of the world people are not applying for the role of cashier. By its very nature, self-shopping also reduces customer engagement, which in turn can lead to reduced customer loyalty. By using self-checkout, instead of sitting at the tills waiting for customers and undertaking repetitive scanning duties, staff can be redeployed to more valuable activities such as customer support and in-store assistance, thus increasing customer engagement and making the role more interesting for staff.
The most successful self-shopping experiences are built on enterprise-grade devices provided in-store, seamlessly supported by retail software that guides shoppers step by step through their journey. Upon loyalty-card validation, mobile computers are instantly released from a cradle, with each scan confirmed by Datalogic’s signature ‘Green Spot’ for maximum confidence and speed. Behind the scenes, the software takes care of product registration, real-time basket updates, and smooth integration with loyalty and payment systems. For added flexibility, consumers can also use their own smartphones for scanning, while contactless payment is available across multiple devices to ensure a faster and more convenient checkout.
With over 15 years of expertise, Datalogic has built a self-shopping portfolio centered on the powerful Shopevolution 8 platform — engineered to deliver a shopping journey that is smooth, fast, and highly reliable. Beyond its solid foundation, Shopevolution unlocks advanced features such as real-time basket visibility, personalized promotions, and seamless integration with e-commerce and Click & Collect services. Thanks to embedded machine learning and AI modules, it empowers retailers not only to analyze shopping behavior, optimize in-store operations, and strengthen customer loyalty, but also to reduce shrinkage and elevate loss-prevention strategies. Completing the ecosystem is the Joya Touch 22: a sleek, lightweight, and high-performance device designed to deliver an engaging and dependable companion experience.
Expanding its retail capabilities even further, Datalogic has acquired Datema Retail Solutions AB, adding EasyShop to its portfolio. This cutting-edge solution enables smartphone-based scanning that connects directly to store systems, with open APIs ensuring effortless integration. Retailers gain access to intuitive dashboards, customizable KPIs, and built-in security controls that play a crucial role in minimizing shrinkage. For consumers, EasyShop provides a modern, consistent, and frictionless path to purchase — aligned with today’s expectations of speed, convenience, and flexibility across any device.
