ECR Workshop: How to benefit from self-scan checkouts - without increasing shrinkage

Interactive one-day workshop run by ECR Europe Shrinkage Group and supported by Checkpoint Systems on Thursday 27 January, 2011, Brussels, Belgium. Experts, retailers and technology providers about self-scan checkouts and retail shrinkage.

Brussels, December 13 – Scan, bag and buy – without any assistance of sales staff. What was dismissed years ago as dreams of the future has already become reality in the European retail industry. Self-scan checkouts are playing a greater role and it is anticipated that the market for this technology will grow threefold between 2007 and 2011. While consumers benefit from shorter waiting times at the cash register, retailers also face challenges with introducing self-scan checkouts. They fear that this new technology may be associated with an increase in retail shrinkage; however, opinions vary on the potential impact self-scan technologies might have on the scale and extent of retail shrinkage. Each year, the retail sector pays billions of Euros for shrinkage, and due to low margins retailers remain under considerable pressure to limit their liability to this problem.

At an interactive one-day workshop, the ECR Europe Shrinkage Group intends to focus on this topic. Under the title ‘Shrinkage and Self-Scan Checkouts: Benefits, Challenges and Opportunities’, academic experts will join senior practitioners from Albert Heijn and Asda Walmart as well as equipment providers to debate the key issues relating to this technology. The event, aimed at loss prevention practitioners, retail operation and store design teams and technology providers, takes place on 27 January, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel, Brussels Airport, Belgium. It is part of an ongoing seminar programme run by ECR Europe Shrinkage Group, and is supported by Checkpoint Systems, a leading supplier of shrink management, apparel labelling and merchandise visibility solutions.

“Besides latest academic research on self-scan checkouts and shrinkage, delegates will also have access to information on technological research and innovative case studies on the benefits, business results and challenges of introducing self scan tills”, said Colin Peacock, Manufacturer Co-Chair, ECR Europe Shrinkage Project, and P & G’s Director of Brand Protection and On-Shelf Availability.

At the seminar, Adrian Beck, Head of the Department of Criminology at the University of Leicester in the UK and a loss prevention specialist, will make available his new report entitled ‘the Impact and Control of Shrinkage at Self Scan Checkouts’ and present key findings from this work. He will also lead an interactive session focussing on how the role of staff, store design and management are critical elements in effectively managing self-scan systems.

The agenda also features retailer case studies highlighting ‘the Use (and abuse) of Self Scan in Retailing’. Among the speakers are James Airey, Retail Service Manager at Asda Walmart and Abel Blaauw, Formula Manager for Albert Heijn in the Netherlands. Adrian Beck from the University of Leicester went on to add, “A close cooperation between retailers and manufacturers is essential to face today’s and future challenges in the market. The ECR seminar points out which opportunities new technologies offer to enhance sales and profits."

Commenting on Checkpoint’s involvement, Neil Matthews, Vice President and General Manager, North and Central Europe said: “As a technological consultant for the retail industry, Checkpoint is committed to enabling retailers to ensure a positive shopping experience for consumers. We are, therefore, pleased to support the event run by ECR Europe Shrinkage Group."

To view the full programme and register for the event, please visit www.shrinkage.ecr-all.org or contact ECR Europe.