Kroger Store Deploys ‘Tunnel Scanner’ at Checkout

SN STAFF

HEBRON, Ky. — Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. has deploy a fully automated tunnel scanner at the checkout in a Kroger Marketplace store here, eliminating the need for manual scanning by cashiers or shoppers, reported Planet Retail.

Called Advantage Checkout, the tunnel scanner allows shoppers to place their items on a conveyor belt one at a time; the products are scanned while moving at high speed through the tunnel, the report said. After scanning, shoppers receive a receipt with a barcode from a printer.

They move on to one of four IBM self-service payment terminals where they scan the barcode of the receipt and pay. An employee watches the scanning process and directs the items into different bagging areas so that the machine can be used by the next shopper, while the purchases of the first are packed by an employee.

The Advantage Checkout is based on IBM software and was custom built for Kroger with components from different technology providers, the report said.