• by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, January 12, 2020

Self-checkout technology at stores is getting a good workout, but consumers want more.

Nearly two-thirds of consumers say they frequently use self-checkout machine at their grocery stores, though 74% say difficulty in entering goods and frequent overrides were their biggest concerns with the technology, according to a new study.

Nearly all (89%) consumers say they want self-checkout machines that can automatically identify items, according to the study, comprising a survey of 270 U.S. adults conducted by Shekel Brainweigh.

The survey was released at the start of the National Retail Federation’s annual “Big Show” in New York.

Nearly a third (28%) of consumers using self-checkout were pulled aside by store personnel to check their purchases.

More than half (59%) of consumers were more likely to use self-checkout if technology improvements were deployed.

About a quarter (24%) of consumers said the fastest possible checkout would significantly improve their shopping experience.

About half (48%) of consumers would purchase healthy food items from a vending machine if readily available, with the same number citing lack of selection and fresh products in today’s vending machines as frustrations.

Technology being shown at the NRF conference is expected to address some of these concerns.