Russia's X5 Retail Group has announced the rollout of self-checkout (SCO) technology across selected Pyaterochka proximity stores.
The technology, which has been developed in-house by X5, is currently in place at 369 outlets, with a total of 1,435 units installed. The retailer is aiming to have a total of 12,000 units in operation by the end of the year.
The rollout follows a pilot test in August and September 2019, following which received a positive response from shoppers – in a poll of 32,000 customers, the units received an average rating of 4.8 out of 5, the retailer said.
The machines have been developed by X5's innovation lab, and cost four times less to mass produce than regular machines, the retailer said.
Mass Implementation
"Mass implementation of self-checkouts across our retail chains has been overdue for several years," commented X5 Retail Group CEO Igor Shekhterman.
"However, high procurement and maintenance costs made the investment unattractive and inhibited the rollout to thousands of our stores. The new self-checkout systems that X5 has developed entirely in-house represent a major breakthrough for the Russian retail market."
Shekhterman added that the units are already "transforming the shopping experience" for millions of customers across Russia.
Commencing this month, the machines will also be installed at Perekrestok outlets, as well as Pyaterochka stores.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
