Symbol Technologies Inc. (Holtsville, NY), a well known provider of enterprise mobility solutions, and NCR Corp. (Dayton, OH), a major manufacturer of retail store automation systems, are collaborating to market a customer self-service shopping solution that combines the Symbol Portable Shopping System (PSS) with NCR's FastLane self-checkout. The combo system is designed to give shoppers the option of scanning and bagging their selections in the aisles as they shop, maintaining a running total of their purchases with the Symbol handheld scanner, and then paying for their purchases at an NCR FastLane unit. Alternately, consumers may elect to use the NCR FastLane at the end of their shopping trip to scan, bag, and pay for their items.
Said a spokesperson, the combination of these products "enhances shoppers' in-store experience by providing them with greater control over purchases and streamlining the checkout process, regarded as the 'least favorite' part of shopping." Symbol and NCR expect the combined solutions to be piloted soon by a major food retailer.
A shopper engages a PSS device by unlocking it from a kiosk dispenser, using his or her shopper loyalty card. The handheld, which communicates with the store server's price lookup file via a Symbol-supplied wireless local area network, allows shoppers to scan and bag their order in the aisles.
Said to be as easy to use as an ATM, NCR's FastLane is touted as a fast, high-tech alternative to waiting in long lines. The unit accepts cash, credit (or debit) cards, and coupons. Personal checks can be accepted at an optional payment station. Consumers move at their own pace as the unit's touchscreen display and "friendly voice" guide them through the transaction. Shoppers using the Symbol PSS can initiate the finalization of their orders by scanning their loyalty card at the NCR FastLane self-checkout.
