OriginalSourceFast CompanyUnited StatesLeanCenter-leftCredibilityPublished09:00 UTCRatings: AllSides, MBFCSourceFast CompanyUnited StatesLeanCenter-leftCredibilityPublished09:00 UTCRatings: AllSides, MBFC
“Self-checkout was supposed to cut costs. Instead, it created a problem retailers didn’t anticipate”
Stores reduce self-checkout lanes after higher merchandise losses.
Key points
- Toast survey: 36% of 340 retailers used self-checkout this year, down from 43% in 2025.
- ECR Retail Loss: grocery losses after installing self-checkout rose 22% on average.
- Dollar General removed self-checkout lanes from about 12,000 stores in 2024.
- Five Below also reduced self-checkout use in 2024.
- 88% of retailers believe AI will boost efficiency; 90% plan to use more AI.
How it got here
Fast Company publishes the article.
concise reads it.