Results of Research
In this progress report, I will present the completed work of Task 1. I will show the progress of Tasks 2-3.
Task 1. Hiring technicians to install the software for the self-checkout system
Self-checkouts have made their way into the business world in 2012. Since 2012, self-checkouts have seen a lot of popularity among stores (The Pros and Cons of Using Self-Checkouts – BusinessBee). I have researched the pros and cons to this topic; and I see more pros that can come from this implementation that cons.
Since the technicians have done their job of installing and preparing the software and register for implementing a self-checkout the store is one task closer to using the system. I am a firm believer this will result in additional success and happy customers. I have researched the pros of self-checkouts and found three areas of success that include:
• T.J. Maxx, Fargo ND will save money with the self-checkouts.
• Customers will save time with the self-checkouts.
• The efficiency and speed of checkouts will increase with the self-checkouts.
I found the advantages of self-checkouts on a website
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These associates will be trained to engage associates who are using the self-checkout. This is an important key. I have noted in my proposal the main disadvantage of a self-checkout is the lack of human conversation with the store’s associates. Most conversations with front line associates tend to be very short and vague. However, those conversations are helping customers be emotionally engaged while shopping. There was research done that concluded, “By 2020, the customer will manage 85% of the relationship with an enterprise without interacting with a human” (Raza). With this knowledge, it is crucial to train sales associates on how to engage with customers who are using the self-checkout
Long-term, the cart also can be part of an expedited check out system that decreases congestion during the check out process (Media Cart, 2010). Consumers scan items as they put them into their carts and directly into bags. At the end of their shopping experience, they move the cart onto the scale to check for accuracy and for additional items, before they pay and leave; this process could save money by reducing customer service personnel.
This milestone, which covers Sections I and II of Final Project Part II, is a paper structured as follows:
The future of this cash register without more user and customer friendly components has a limited lifespan. Today’s merchants want an all-in-one register that reads cards, has bigger displays, and makes record keeping more
“Researchers at IHL Consulting Group point out that there were over 34,000 self-checkout lanes in operation at the end of 2003”. As of 2013 there were 200,000 self-checkouts in operation
(Please note: Task 1, 3 & 4 have been combined together into one report. Task 2 is separate and can be found on page 9)
By attending Godspell on its opening night I was able to assess the audience based on the event’s initial crowd. This also allowed for an opportunity for me to analyze the audience in regards to the type of individuals that were able to attend an event of this nature on a Thursday evening. My findings were that the people who did attend were mostly students from the university, as this made for the most economical as well as convenient night to attend, considering the event was held in campus facilities. Another finding that I was able to assess about the audience was that those who did attend came in groups, as opposed to individually, which in my opinion was a direct reflection of people attending for supporting purposes as opposed to
Self-service technology does require a moderate change in behavior as consumers must learn to use equipment. However, self-service technology is designed to be intuitive, so the adjustment is not major. Thus, self-checkout technology would be best considered as a dynamically continuous
Many businesses are implementing technology to combat wage increases and remain competitive. Many larger retailers, such as Walmart and Kroger, have effectively maintained self-checkouts for customers for years. The self-checkout area may have four to six registers, manned by one associate. Larger gas stations are implementing new technologies, as well. Quick Trip(QT) has installed a system that allows the user to order food and drink by touch screen, print a ticket and pay at the regular counter, eliminating the need for extra cashiers and registers. They serve a variety of items such as specialty coffees, smoothies, pretzels, pizza, sandwiches, ice cream and more with their user-friendly system. In addition, pay at the pump has provided relief at long lines of gas stations for years. Restaurants such as Wendy’s, McDonalds, and Panera bread are currently investing in kiosk to serve the future needs of their customers. Wendy’s will have 6,000 locations equipped with kiosk by the end of 2016. "With the pressure on wages and minimum wage increasing in some places, (restaurants) are motivated," said Bob Welcher, president of Restaurant Consultants Inc. "From an operational standpoint, I can see the advantages." Welcher also adds that “The kiosks are more precise. They always are courteous. They always show up to work on time." (Malone, JD. "Wendy's embraces self-order kiosks." Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) 17 May 2016: Newspaper Source. Web. 9 Dec. 2016.)
The literature below is a research about self-checkout machine in Tesco supermarkets, and it aims at answering; the reasons that Tesco has changed, importance of self checkout systems in Tesco and challenges faced by the self checkout systems. TESCO is a chain of supermarkets stores originally from the U.K; they have expanded rapidly over the past few years. These stores are of general merchandise that carries everything from clothing, deckchairs, groceries, petrol stations, wines, consumer electronics, DVD and CDS. TESCO has stores in North America, Asia and Europe that operate under the TESCO brand. It operates hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenient stores. TESCO services allow their customers to do their shopping from the comfort of their chairs; because delivery is done to their homes, and it also offers internet shopping services.
not every online shopper wants to wait for delivery, so collection points could be created within the stores for customers who come to collect their orders. this would also allow customers to check their orders there and then. all these would substantially reduce delivery cost and increase accuracy.
Self payment drug and alcohol rehab programs allow their clients to pay out of pocket instead of using an insurance provider.
At present I am applying out of cycle from my graduation year. Immediately after graduation from medical school, I enrolled at Tulane University School of Medicine to pursue a Master’s in Clinical Research where I completed a 6 month research clerkship in trauma and critical care. Additionally, I have remained active in the clinical setting, completing a 3 month outpatient family medicine clerkship and a 3 month primary care and medicine clerkship. My drive to become a physician has seen many hills and valleys, but I am hardworking and determined to succeed as a resident physician. Particularly, I hope to have an overall medical residency education, rather than just focus on one area; this will allow me to take care of an entire family as they grow, from caring for a mother throughout her pregnancy, to performing minor clinical procedures, delivering babies, and finally to caring for an aging grandparent mainly in a medically underserved community.
Self-Service Technologies are the technologies which make customers operate the service by themselves without the helping of employees (Meuter et al. 2000). Currently, SST has already been used in online operation which is familiar to customers, they always shopping(Childers et al. 2001), buy tickets or reserve a service by using company’s official websites. It is more convenient because it is not limited by the location and time, consumers could operate at any time. Moreover, SST is also adapted in the offline procedures. For example, the Automatic Teller Machine when people withdraw the money, the self-service machine in the kiosk when people buy the goods, and also the stores for the customers to purchase in the offline store, etc. The advantage of SST is that it could recognize customers’ preferences and provide the customized services for them in the next time. Therefore, SST is a new way which replaces the traditional method to serve customers, it not only benefits customers but also the corporate. In some way, the easy process of service could reduce the cost for the company(Carline,
Currently available, but with expectations of large increases, are mobile pay methods which are becoming more convenient and more secure. Retailers need to offer mobile payment or be left behind. We have Apple Pay and Google Wallet. PayPal has an app that allows customers to “check-in” when entering a store. Users can then punch in their phone numbers and a code at the cashier station and the charge is put on your account (Williams). Chase Pay allows consumers to show a code to their cashier and their account will be billed. On the horizon are Bluetooth payments where customers don’t even have to take their phones out of their pockets or purses. More advanced mobile changes are predicted in the future, like the Bluetooth payments (Kearsley). The goal of mobile payments is to make the process quicker, easier and more secure.
Providing a self-check-out machine to save the customer’s time. Also, these machines will reduce the expenses that will be paid for the labours.