Self-service checkout

More and more supermarkets are turning to self-service checkouts to shorten queues, save on staff and reduce space requirements. While these checkouts enable fast and self-paced shopping, there are some challenges that affect the user experience.

Challenges of traditional self-service checkouts

Complex operation
Confusing touchscreen menus with too many choices make navigation difficult.
Time-consuming scanning
Products without barcodes have to be laboriously searched through long lists.
Impractical for large or heavy items
Bulky items are difficult to handle and often do not fit on the shelf.
Limited space
Self-service checkouts are often not designed for larger purchases.

Introducing our new concept

AI-supported product recognition
An intelligent camera automatically recognizes products without barcodes, eliminating the need to manually search
through long lists.

Intuitive user interface
Clear, single-axis menu navigation simplifies processes and makes navigation much more intuitive.

Space optimization with rail system and pull-out shelves
An rail system makes it easier to push in the shopping cart and at the same time improves access to lower-lying products by separating the rack from the basket. This makes it easier to reach goods that are under the basket. In addition, pull-out shelves offer more space to store purchases if you come without a shopping cart.

These improvements not only make the self-service checkout faster and more convenient, but also more attractive to a wider target group - from small purchases to weekly shopping.

Shopping cart

The shopping cart system utilizes a guided rail mechanism to ensure stability and secure positioning of the basket on the cart frame or at the checkout.
The system operates through a combination of permanent and electromagnetic forces, ensuring smooth attachment and detachment.

On the Cart Frame: A weaker permanent neodymium magnet could serve as the primary connection, holding the basket in place.

At the Self-Checkout: A stronger electromagnet with opposing polarity enables the basket’s release.

White Label Screens

Our self-checkout interface is designed as a white-label solution, allowing other companies to adapt the screens to their own brand identity. The UI elements, such as colors, logos, and typography, can be customized to match the retailer’s corporate design while maintaining the core functionality and usability of the system.
This approach ensures a consistent user experience across different stores while providing businesses with the flexibility to integrate the self-checkout seamlessly into their existing brand environment.

Prototype

We built a real size model of the cashier systems. Our prototype consists of an Arduino Uno connected to an RFID scanner and a red LED that simulates the scanning process. Each product is equipped with an RFID chip, which is detected by the scanner.
When a product is scanned, the Arduino processes the signal and transmits it to ProtoPie, where the corresponding item is dynamically added to the digital shopping list. This setup ensures a seamless interaction between physical objects and the digital interface, closely mimicking a real-world self-checkout experience.
It hepled us simulate the whole payment prozess from the start when ariving with your purchase and scanning everything with simulating the ai camera and weighing of products, using and interacting with the screen and understaning whats good and if there is something that still needs improvement.

Optimized purchasing/payment process

Entering the self-checkout area
Customer selects a free checkout. Shopping trolleys can be pushed into the appliance or a shelf can be pulled out.
Scan unsuitable products
Hand scanner enables scanning directly in the trolley.
Products without barcode
Camera recognises loose goods, customer confirms product. Goods are weighed and added.
Age-restricted articles
Customer scans ID card, system checks automatically and informs about further steps.
Scan and store items
Customer scans all items, places them in the basket, which is weighed again for the security check.
Finalisation of the purchase
After scanning, the customer pays at the machine and leaves the store with a shopping trolley or basket.