Should You Roll Out Self-Checkout Before the Holidays?

It’s the peak of summer—barbecues and lake days are in full swing—and it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the holidays. While the winter holidays are far off, it’s never too late to start planning early. Especially when the back-to-school rush starts in August and Christmas shopping chaos starts soon after. So, what better time to start planning than now, when you’re in a slower season? Should you roll out self-checkout before the holidays? Spoiler: the answer is a resounding “Yes,” and we’re here to tell you why.

Why Are Self-Checkout Registers Trending in Retail?

Self-checkout registers are the newest retail technology trend that the best and biggest retailers are jumping on. But it’s not just a trend. Not only do customers love the new technology, but it also makes your retail employees work seamlessly and saves you money in the long run. It’s a win-win for everyone. Investing in a self-checkout kiosk allows your customers to skip all the hassle—no long lines, skip the small talk, less invasive process, no pressure to rush, etc. Self-checkouts allow the consumer to slow down or speed up according to what they need. They determine the pace, and you supply them with all the tools they need. Plus, you can save money by not having to hire so many cashiers.

Why is a Summer Self-Checkout Roll-Out Helpful?

You can get ahead of the holidays with a summer self-checkout roll-out. Instead of waiting until a ton of other companies are lined up to buy new self-checkout kiosks, you can get ahead of the crowd and get some of the best prices in the heat of summer. We’re well aware it’s a little early to start thinking about the winter holidays, but now is the best time to start your new technology rollout. The sooner you start, the sooner you can train your team and smooth out any wrinkles before the busy season starts.

Benefits of Self-Checkout Registers for the Holidays

There are several benefits of investing in self-checkout registers for the holidays, and the earlier you install them, the sooner you can take advantage of their perks. Here are some of the greatest benefits that self-checkout registers offer:

• Decreased consumer wait times
• Customer-set checkout pacing
• More privacy for consumers
• Lower labor costs
• Greater checkout capacity
• Compact design for more space
  
  

Should You Roll Out Self-Checkout Before the Holidays?

Yes! You should absolutely roll out self-checkout systems before the holidays. The earlier you roll out your new system(s), the sooner you can train your team on them, figure out quirks and solutions early on and be better prepared for when the holidays are here.

A lot of companies make the mistake of getting their self-checkout and POS systems too late, and they are often left fumbling in the holiday rush. No one should be ironing out their process in the middle of the busy season, but that’s often what happens when you wait. The fact of the matter is that a lot of companies are investing in modern tech a long before the holiday season, and you don’t want to be stuck scrambling for a system with everyone else at the last minute.

Depending on when you’re reading this article and the scale of your operation, a full self-checkout rollout before the holidays may not be realistic, but that doesn’t mean planning should wait. Whether you're preparing for a launch early next year or considering a phased approach, now is a great time to evaluate your store’s readiness. If a full refresh isn’t on the table for this season, our team offers a comprehensive retail technology health check to ensure everything is optimized and running smoothly before the busy holiday rush.

Related Blog: What Should You Consider When Choosing a POS System?

How RTI Makes Holiday Self-Checkout Rollouts Easy

Once you realize it’s time to roll out your self-checkout additions, you might be wondering how you can get started. Here at RTI, we offer all-in-one retail tech services to help you every step of the way. From selecting the best point of sale systems and self-checkouts to setting up and maintaining your technology, we have your back. Curious to see how our process works?

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