Despite theft concerns, retailers are still saving money overall. That said, they are actively trying to reduce losses. Many stores disabled weight-based theft detection systems because frequent alerts frustrated shoppers, though this made theft easier. New solutions are now emerging.
NCR Corp, which supplies self-checkout machines to Walmart, has introduced video-based technology. Short video clips of potential mis-scans are reviewed by off-site human monitors. Walmart has also adopted a camera system from Everseen Ltd., which tracks shopper movements and scanned items in real time. If a mis-scan is suspected, the transaction pauses and a store employee is notified.
Embracing Technology
Although self-checkouts were once unpopular, more shoppers are now accepting them as the technology improves. Target has installed self-checkout machines in nearly all of its 1,900 stores, and a company spokesperson said that about one-third of customers prefer using them [4]. As self-checkout systems become more advanced, so do their security measures. For shoppers relying on tricks like the banana scam, those opportunities may soon disappear.
