The global economic downturn has opened up opportunities for self-service cash transaction and check-out kiosks at retail stores across the country. The self-service kiosk concept, a hit in markets such as the US, the UK and Japan, among others, enables retailers to deploy cashiers on the shop floor to enhance customer experience, apart from helping the cut down costs.
In this context, Peter Frielick, vice-president, marketing, Asia Pacific region, NCR Australia Pty Ltd made his first official visit to India to tap opportunities in self-service technologies in the retail sector.
NCR Australia Pty Ltd, whose technology solutions are deployed by retail giants like WalMart, Tesco and Home Depot, among others, wants to “empower retail majors in India on self-service technologies,” according to Frielick.
Speaking to FE, Frielick explained the rationale behind the company?s foray into the Indian market. “Self-service technologies at billing counters will enable customers to operate cash transaction kiosks by placing products on the bar code reader. This will help retailers get rid of long customer queues at billing counters,” he said.
“Also, retailers will be able to deploy cashiers on the shop floor to enhance customers? shopping experience. This is the right opportunity to enter the Indian market,” he added. According to Pradeep Sen, managing director, NCR Corporation India Private Ltd, “At the recently held Retail Excellence Technology 2008 seminar, retail majors like Reliance Retail, Pantaloon Retail, Tata?s Trent, Titan and Westside, Caf? Coffee Day, Barista showed significant interest in installing self-service billing counters and check-out kiosks within their hypermarkets and retail stores. The retail companies witnessed product demos and inquired about the sustainability of the technology.”
Reliance Retail officials, requesting anonymity, told FE, “We have experienced the demo (of the kiosks). They will benefit shoppers. Deploying self-service cash transaction kiosks will be a good cost-cutting exercise for us as well, as they will be able to prune employees and shift cashiers on the shop floor.”
Sources in Pantaloon Retail said that they are still to decide on implementing the technology.
Hypercity Argos, which is already operates self-service product details kiosks, is also open to installing cash transaction kiosks with self-service technology.
Meanwhile, Frielick noted that with the entry of global retail giants in India, “we will be able to expand the base of self-service technology in Indian market as well”.
The retail sector in India has been witnessing significant overhaul, as traditional markets have paved way for new formats such as departmental stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets and specialty stores.