New technology to reduce theft at self service checkouts

Australian supermarket giant Coles is considering introducing new technology to reduce their annual $1.1 billion theft debt at self-serve checkouts.

Retail sources have told news.com.au that Coles is looking at machine scanners that can more cleverly identify specific fruit and vegetables by a combination of weight and image recognition.

Research reveals that shoppers are more likely to steal at a self-serve machine, partly because customers are distanced from the human face of the business.

Coles did not respond to questions about the introduction of the new technology. It denied it would employ two staff at self-service areas in some supermarkets to “meet and greet” shoppers and put a human face on the areas to reduce theft, saying a number of Coles supermarkets already have more than one self-service supervisor. Read more….