DXC Technology, Harting and Murata presented an RFID-based self-checkout counter at this week’s Euroshop show in Dusseldorf that enables a single scan of a complete shopping basket, providing a fast and seamless in-store shopping experience.

The concept aims to eliminate the long queues at the cash register during grocery shopping. The RFID counter simplifies product scanning and shortens the time consumers spend at the self-checkout counters.

The shoppers simply place their bags or baskets on the counter and all the products get scanned at once; the counter monitor displays a full list of the products together with the final bill. This improves the self-checkout experience, as customers no longer have to scan each product individually, which is time consuming and sometimes requires several scans till the product’s code is read.

Using the RFID counter, shoppers can pay by card, via an app and, optionally, if added to the counter, in cash. To pay using an app, they connect to the checkout counter through the retailer’s app. They will just scan the counter’s QR code and confirm the payment via the app. The entire checkout experience takes less than 30 seconds.

Apart from grocery markets and shops, this technology can be used for fashion and hardware retailers to improve their customer experience.

RFID technology has evolved significantly over the past years, and former issues such as label cost or readability limitation for products that contain metals or liquids have been resolved. An all-RFID strategy delivers its RoI through adding value in multiple use cases along the product lifecycle, starting in production – for the retailer’s private labels, in the supply chain, in compliance processes and in the store.

Label costs are lower when using the technology in high volumes. Specifically in store, RFID technology can be used for multiple use cases such as precise inventory management, dynamic pricing, intelligent shelfing, digital shelf assistants and anti-theft protection. Using RFID can also help retailers get better customer insights.

The concept developed by DXC, Harting and Murata is based on an RFID middleware layer. The scanner station, payment processes, the mobile app and the retailer’s back-end systems are connected to that layer via secured APIs. It also maintains a digital twin of each product.

• Harting announced its cooperation with the Norwegian company StrongPoint a year ago. Over the past months, the two companies put their heads together and developed a number of modern self-checkout systems that were highlighted at the Dusseldorf event.

“The new and innovative systems combine efficiency and security with value creating retailing to optimise the retail space and to ensure even better customer experiences,” said Jacob Tveraabak, CEO of StrongPoint.

The conventional cash desk area that accounts for some one per cent of the retail floor space generates around four to seven per cent of sales by impulse purchases and tobacco products. In markets without self-checkout product offerings, these sales are lost entirely.