Automated Retail

So what does “self-service” mean? ATM’s. Airport Check-In, Grocery Check-Out… Twenty years ago, the closest most retail stores got to “self-service” was allowing customers to grab their own shopping carts. If a particular chain was really daring, it would let consumers bag their goods themselves or provide in-store catalogs where shoppers could find the location of a product without having to ask for a salesperson.

But the entire concept of “self-service” has radically changed over the last two decades. Self-service lanes have not just appeared in grocery stores and airports, they have become the norm.

The introduction of the Internet in the 1990s only strengthened this trend. Suddenly, consumers could research the products online before they even walked into a store. The result has been shoppers who are much more informed, more selective and more impatient with salespeople who provide unnecessary information.

• There are over 1 million self-service machines in use today
• 86% of consumers say that they are more likely to do business with companies that offer self-service.
• 97% of consumers said they would use a combination of self-service channels to handle a transaction.
  Source:  NCR 2008: The Self-Service Revolution is Real

Introducing Automated Retail…

Traditional vending machines have been around for a long time, while Automated Retail is expanding rapidly. Automated retail is the technology, software and services behind the self-service kiosks that sell or rent products to consumers automatically.

In the United States, supermarkets across the country have been installing automated DVD rental kiosks. These machines have been wildly successful for a couple of reasons. DVDs are a high volume product that normally require full-time employees but with the automated DVD kiosks, no labor is required.  But more importantly, consumers are attracted to the convenient and “cool” experience of renting from these kiosks.

Airports and malls kiosks are another example of how automated retail is great for consumers. Suddenly realize you forgot your camera on that once-in-a-lifetime trip to South America? Don’t want to wait in line to buy cosmetics? No problem. Leading brands and retailers are taking advantage of the automated retail channel to provide convenience and new products to consumers.  Products such as Apple iPods, digital cameras, apparel, cosmetics and cell phone accessories are all now available at automated retail stores.

The pioneer of the automated retail channel is ZoomSystems.  ZoomSystems is leading the revolution in automated retail with more than one million transactions and over 1000 ZoomShops across the U.S., Europe and Japan.