German retailers expand self-checkout technology

German retailers are increasingly adopting self-checkout technologies, a trend that has seen the number of self-service systems in the country double within two years. Companies like Rewe and Mars Wrigley recently received an ‘ECR Award’ for redesigning the checkout zone to optimize the customer experience.

Kaufland is aggressively pursuing this development, planning to retrofit 220 more branches by 2026. The company aims to operate more than 8,000 self-service checkouts nationwide. Approximately 40 percent of customers already utilize self-checkout options. Additionally, the ‘K-Scan’ method allows customers to use handheld scanners or smartphones to record items during their shopping trip.

This shift in retail technology represents a form of digitalization that transfers a portion of the labor from employees to the customers themselves.