The Spanish retail chain FNAC has deployed NCR FastLane self-checkouts at its new store in Bilbao, and has revealed plans to roll out the same self-service terminals to additional stores by 2009.
The self-checkout technology is well suited to retail food and non-food environments, and in rolling out the terminals FNAC has become the first Spanish retailer to deploy NCR's self-checkout facility in a non-food environment.
Paying with loyalty points
FastLane offers shoppers the choice of scanning, bagging and paying for purchases themselves without passing through the traditional cashier-assisted checkout, thereby avoiding queues. For payment, NCR's system accepts cash, credit and debit cards, FNAC's loyalty points, and the FNAC card.
Customers scan their items at their own pace, guided by a touch screen and spoken instructions that assist them with the whole process. Store staff are also on hand to teach customers who are using the terminal for the first time, or to help with any difficulties.
Spanish consumers questioned
According to a survey commissioned by NCR in December 2005, out of 517 Spanish consumers who had used self-checkout terminals, 10% use them always or nearly always when they go shopping. These consumers rated the main benefits as: self-service, reduced queues, faster purchases, and greater privacy and control.
More than half (53%) said they would be more willing to buy at a store with self-checkout facilities than in stores with only traditional checkouts. This proportion rose to 63% among those who said they always or nearly always use self-checkout terminals when they are available.
FNAC, a cultural and leisure goods retailer, was launched in Spain in 1993, and operates 14 stores (in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza, Asturias, Marbella, San Sebastian, Murcia and Bilbao) and its web-based online store. The company was founded in 1954, and is part of PRP Group (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute), which also has stores in Europe and Brasil.
For additional information:
· Visit NCR at http://www.ncr.com
· Visit FNAC at http://www.fnac.es (Spanish)