Self-checkout is convenient — no two ways about it. It gives customers power, and they don’t have to wait in long lines for cashiers. But with a lack of oversight, self-checkouts are a target for theft. It’s not so convenient when theft leads to shrinkage.
If you’re reviewing data and notice an increase in missing inventory, your store might be the victim of self-checkout theft. There are various reasons people steal — out of necessity, thinking they can get away with it, or just for the thrill — whatever the reason, theft significantly impacts your bottom line.
In this article, we'll share some tips and tools that can help you improve the security of your self-checkout kiosks. By following these tips, you can reduce theft and protect your profits.
Why Is Self-Checkout Security Necessary?
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to prevent theft in your grocery store. But theft is common, and self-checkouts might make it easier for people to steal. But what can you do to prevent theft in your store?
Self-checkout security can include security cameras, scanner and weight scales, employee monitoring, and customer education. You’ll need to decide what’s best for your store. Budget plays a role, but your location, the size of your store, and how busy it gets also help make your decision.
How does self-checkout theft occur?
- Passing items through without scanning them
- Placing the barcode of a cheaper item onto a more expensive item
- Manipulating the scale by placing a hand on it, or using other tactics to fool the system into thinking the item weighs less than it does
- Entering a lower quantity when buying items sold by quantity
- Working in groups to distract employees
Of course, well-intentioned customers might make errors, and sometimes, software glitches or hardware malfunctions could lead to incorrect charges or other problems.
5 Tips For Reducing Self-Checkout Theft
1. Train Your Employees
Employees are on the front lines! They’re your first line of defense. It’s essential to train employees on what to look out for regarding self-checkout theft. Teach them how to spot suspicious activities. It’s a good idea to use role play as a training tool. Make training interactive and keep employees engaged.
You can also train employees during live scenarios. For example, spend an hour looking out for suspicious activity. You might include teaching them how to recognize common shoplifting tactics, monitoring customers' actions at the self-checkout kiosk, and knowing when to step in and offer assistance or report concerns.
2. Install Security Cameras
Say cheese! Security cameras act as a deterrent to shoplifters. Let customers know that they’re being watched with clear signage. Place cameras in strategic locations around the self-checkout area, including at the entrance and exit, as well as above the registers.
Cameras also provide evidence if theft does occur.
3. Use Weight Scales
Scales can detect items that haven't been scanned, or that have been scanned incorrectly. An item placed on the scale should match the weight in the store's database. Weights that don't match will cause an alarm to sound, alerting your employee.
For example, if a customer tries to press down on the scale or uses other tactics to make the item appear lighter, the system can detect the sudden change in weight and alert the store staff or require the customer to rescan the item.
4. Educate Customers About Self-Checkout Procedures
It’s crucial to educate customers on the proper usage of self-checkout kiosks. For example, direct them to weigh items, bag them, and pay for them correctly. You’ll help customers be more aware of their actions and, hopefully, discourage dishonest behavior.
Make real-time customer support available through employees or virtual assistance to help customers with any issues they might face during self-checkout. This also allows staff to monitor the self-checkout area closely and intervene if they notice any suspicious activity.
5. Use Technology To Prevent Theft
Several technological solutions can help prevent self-checkout theft. Some of these solutions include:
- RFID tags: Attach RFID tags to items to track their movement through the store. An alarm will sound if an item is removed from the store without being scanned.
- Face recognition software: Face recognition software can be used to identify customers who have been banned from the store or have a history of theft.
- Contactless payment: Offering contactless payment options reduces the risk of payment fraud. They make it more difficult for thieves to steal payment information.
Use Your Point of Sale (POS) System To Reduce Theft
A robust point of sale system can contribute to self-checkout security in various ways.
You can integrate some POS and video surveillance systems and monitor real-time self-checkout transactions. Correlating transaction data with video footage makes it easier to identify suspicious activities and investigate potential theft incidents.
With real-time inventory, you can keep track of items as they’re scanned at the self-checkout kiosk. You can then monitor any discrepancies between your inventory and the items being purchased. Additionally, transaction data will help you identify trends, patterns, or anomalies that indicate theft.
Related: How Do Grocery Stores Manage Inventory? 4 Core Ways To be Successful
Finally, by providing role-based access control, you can limit the functionality available to employees based on their job responsibilities. This helps prevent unauthorized actions at self-checkout stations, such as overriding prices or voiding transactions, which could be exploited for theft or fraud.
Optimize Your Self-Checkout Security
As you can see, there are various ways to improve the security of your self-checkout kiosks. By following the tips and tools that we have shared, you can reduce theft and protect your profits. Here are some additional things to keep in mind:
- Be proactive. Don’t wait until you have a problem to start taking steps to prevent it.
- Your employees really are your first line of defense! They should be aware of the signs of theft and know what to do if they see something suspicious.
- Keeping self-checkout systems secure requires regular software updates, like any other technology. System updates can fix bugs, patch vulnerabilities, and improve performance.
- Perform regular maintenance and hardware checks to keep your self-checkout systems running smoothly. In addition to ensuring the system's security, this prevents downtime due to malfunctions that may negatively affect customers' experience.
By taking these steps, you can ensure that your self-checkout kiosks are a safe and secure way for customers to check out. With Markt POS, you can access top-of-the-line security features, including weight verification and access controls.
To see Markt POS in action, schedule a demo with our grocery experts today!
