Are retailer-owned devices still needed?
As our society moves towards using smartphones for an increasing amount of tasks, some are asking: Are retail-owned devices for self-scanning a thing of the past? Or are there benefits that makes this type of hardware withstand the test of time? Learn more here!
Some of the benefits of self-scanning are specific for retailer-owned devices.
Self-scanning has become a must-have in various locations around the world, and retailers are eager to provide an incentive for shoppers to choose their store among the competitors. By enhancing the shopping experience, success factors such as customer loyalty also tend to increase, further increasing the willingness among retailers to implement new retail solutions.
However, retailers are still debating whether or not to offer self-scanning through retailer-owned devices or through a smartphone app. Some retailers provide one or the other, whereas other retailers provide both alternatives. As technology has advanced and allowed for smartphones to be utilized for even more tasks, some are asking the question: are retailer-owned devices even needed anymore?
A lot has happened since the first smartphones were launched during the mid-2000s, and while Apple´s Iphone revolutionized the industry, that model does not compare to the devices that have been launched during the last couple of years.
As we are moving towards a society where smartphones can handle most of the tasks that were once exclusive for larger gadgets such as computers and laptops, some claims that such bulkier devices are becoming obsolete.
So also when it comes to self-scanning. Retailers see the clear advantages of not having to purchase any self-scanning devices themselves, as shoppers can use their own smartphones to scan the items. However, there are some benefits of using retailer-owned devices that should not be over-looked.
Some of the benefits of having retailer-owned devices compared to smartphone scanners are:
Lowered threshold for self-scanning – shoppers are more likely to try self-scanning if they do it with a dedicated device.
Convenient when shopping multiple items – both scanning speed and battery life is rapidly increased by using a dedicated scanner device.
Better scanning ability than smartphones - as retailer-owned devices are dedicated towards scanning items, they are usually faster than mobile scanners. Devices such as Zebra PS20 can also scan 1D, 2D electronic and printed barcode.
Compatible with shopping cart - It is convenient to place the device in the holder attached to the shopping cart, something that most shoppers would not dare to do with their smartphones.
A dedicated device - the battery life is more likely to last as the devices are being charged in the cradle when not in use. Moreover, a retailer-owned device is ergonomically designed for scanning items, whereas this is not the case for smartphones.
So what will the future hold, are retailer-owned devices a thing of the past?
As various retail-technology solutions are being launched, the future of retail – and self-scanning in particular- remains unknown. But what does experts think about the future for retailer-owned devices for self-scanning?
“Even though smartphones are a great way for shoppers to utilise existing technology, and to navigate a device they are used to, I believe that the benefits of retailer-owned devices will remain unthreatened”, says Fredrik Englund, Managing Director of Datema Retail.
“The benefits of having a dedicated self-scanning device is noticeable, however it is highly important that the hardware is of high-quality and shopper-oriented. By providing retailer-owned devices such as the PS20 from Zebra Technologies, retailers can ensure that their customers can self-scan with premium hardware”.
Together with the EasyShop solution, the PS20 devices from Zebra Technologies make the shopping experience enjoyable for self-scanning customers. And customer experience will not loose importance anytime soon.
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