Many grocers have learned to adjust to the technology of self-checkout. It’s been considered as a means to emphasize the convenience of less human interaction in daily chores, such as getting your necessities for the day. Small talk has started to come off to busier bees as a bit of a drag on their hectic day. As their minds race over what they need to prioritize after their groceries, a checkout counter without the delay that chitchat entails looks more appealing for their next visit.
Even though some people might prefer a quick chat, studies show that self-service encourages customer loyalty and customer satisfaction. In fact, there’s a trend for younger generations to lean toward self-checkouts as they might favor having less human interaction during their grocery trips. Here are some possible reasons for this:
Learning On-The-Go
When there’s no one to assist you while checking out, you’re not just doing it yourself — you’re also learning independently. Gaining knowledge while working on tasks leads to happiness by activating the parts of your brain that allow time to pass differently. As your brain acts like a muscle that needs to work out now and then, using a new device such as a scanner or a touchscreen to order food keeps you entertained in your quest to figure things out.
If you can’t figure something out the first time, there’s that tendency to come back and try your luck at it the next time. That’s probably one of the reasons why people tend to return to shops that have self-checkout counters. Once a customer enters the store a second time for self-service, they’ll be able to apply what they trained their brains to do during the last visit.
What’s more, is that they will be able to add on to what they learned from before. There’s an added satisfaction in learning something new every day; like finding out what a button is actually for. And if at some point you find a faulty Zebra device, you’ll be able to inform the manager about the professional repair it needs.
Honest Check-Outs
Being fair with yourself and your purchases can also contribute to your happiness. It’s an exercise of your morality because, unless they get a camera on the counter, you would have to be a good citizen to avoid sneaking a “free” candy bar into that bag. Not everyone finds this to be a real conundrum, and you shouldn’t either.
The other side of the coin is you’ll be more precise in checking out your own groceries. Exhausted employees who’ve been at it day in, day out, just might be more prone to the errors that you can easily overlook in your receipts. They can gloss over what you’ve bought, probably being their 1000th transaction for the week.
But you will know what you’ve bought. You’ve made a list and planned to get what you needed. You know how much money you’ve prepared for the grocery trip so you’ll know what to expect. Self-checkouts bring an end to arguing with the manager over the drained employee who accidentally punched an extra carton of milk.
Sticking to a Budget
Another benefit of self-service is that there are stores with barcode scanners attached to the cart. These allow you to scan the products yourself, as the device informs you of their cost. It really beats the run to the counter just to ask the clerk about the price. Gone are the days of searching for a wall that has a price checker pinned to it. You can push your cart, see something you like, check its price, and figure out on the spot whether you need it or not.
No Judgment
Furthermore, there will no longer be a fear of judgment over a cashier knowing what you’re interested in, and then facing them later on at the checkout without that item. Even better — as mentioned earlier, you won’t have to ask them about the price. You can take liberties with your purchases, without having to worry about what other people will think. No more worrying looks from others, and you won’t have to explain what you’re buying.
Working for yourself can eventually reduce the operating costs of the store; and, in turn, your day-to-day needs. Human interactions may be necessary every day but it shouldn’t directly influence your purchases or the time you set aside for groceries. You can get in and out as quickly as you need to, and then rush to the next errand. Overall, self-checkouts will make life simpler for any consumer.
