Blog Post

Cashless and Employee-less Stores on the Horizon

Lawrence Lerner • Jul 07, 2012
The footprint and space experimentation in Retailers has expanded significantly over the last ten years. Store spaces have become a more intimate experience with subtle lighting and assortments arranged by function (e.g., meals or activity (e.g., Running)) rather than product category. Self-service kiosks have played a strong role in expanding product assortment due to enhanced functionality. They also play a growing role in new product experimentation and freeing up shelf-space. According to an IHL report, kiosk sales will exceed $1 trillion dollars in North America by 2015.

Self-service kiosks have become far more sophisticated in the means of merchandising, fulfilling and accepting payments than those of a short ten years ago. New machines are equipped with touch screens, sophisticated software allowing for complex interactions and the ability to vendor products from “raw” to a cook state such as coffee and pizza.

A model for “catalog” stores where kiosks ring a convenience store size foot reminiscent of automats could be in the works but this goes beyond convenience food. Not unlike the experiment technology retailer Radio Shack tried with their transformational “circular” stores is not far from the horizon. Visualize a retail outlet that empowers consumers with sophisticated touch screens and cameras that you instantly send pictures of clothing to family and friends via your social network. Payments would go cashless via NFC (Near Field Communications), QR Codes or as industry leader Coinstar would have it, through one of their ubiquitous cashing machines. Seattle startup QThru is enabling existing checkouts to use QR Codes for payment via smart phones.

Would you crowdsource opinions on how that new suit looks? Would you accept a 10% off coupon to signal your “friends” via social media or digital signage that you were in the store and buying the new hot item? Sound far off or only for geek chic?

JCPenney change agent CEO Ron Johnson has vowed to build self-service checkout into their stores by 2013-holiday season. This will eliminate line waiting not unlike the Apple stores that made Johnson so attractive as CEO for the embattled Penney.

I’ll be on the lookout for the interesting uses of standalone kiosks and the next generation of automats for Retail opportunities. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lawrence


I translate the CEO, Owner, or Board vision and goals into market-making products that generate $100M in new revenue by expanding into geographies, industries, and verticals while adding customers.


As their trusted advisor, leaders engage me to crush their goals and grow, fix, or transition their businesses with a cumulative impact of $1B. 


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