New kiosk line from Meridian, NEXTEP skips the cash to speed the checkout

New kiosk line from Meridian, NEXTEP skips the cash to speed the checkout
Tags: Elo TouchSystems, Hardware Systems, Meridian Zero Degrees, NEXTEP SYSTEMS, Operating systems/software, Supermarkets & Grocery
February 17, 2009

Meridian Kiosks and NEXTEP SYSTEMS are partnering to roll out a turnkey line of simple, inexpensive self-checkout kiosks for companies that want to get customers in and out quickly.

The new swipe&Go! line of kiosks, which were developed by hardware-provider Meridian and kiosk-software specialist NEXTEP, are unique in one key way — they don't handle cash.

Swipe&Go! developers see the removal of cash during checkout as an asset. The company's research suggests the majority of consumers prefer credit or debit for most self-checkout transactions. And removing the cash from the checkout equation removes the need for costly bill-and-coin acceptors, thereby reducing the cost of deployment and the costs associated with long-term maintenance, says Chris Gilder, Meridian's chief executive.

Retailers don't have to worry about emptying or filling the cash reserves, or about servicing complicated cash-handling conveyors.

"I think this is a perfect kind of solution to roll out in a down economy," he said. "The cost of ownership is low, and the return on investment can be very quick."

Though customizable, the kiosks are being targeted for three specific deployments: A large scanner similar to those found in grocery checkout lines, a compact freestanding version for c-stores, and a wall-mounted version for gas stations, hotel gift shops or other retail spots where space is an issue.

Gilder says the the new line is flexible enough to work across many verticals. The line is fitted with Zebra receipt printers, Motorola omnidirectional scanners and touchscreens from Elo Touch Systems.

Optional features include loyalty-card scanning, a multilingual user interface, customized voiceovers, coupon and voucher tenders and streaming video feeds. If a location prefers to offer a cash option, a bill acceptor can be added.

The price of the new kiosks varies by unit and number purchased, but the average price per unit is expected to be less than $10,000; Gilder said retailers can have a fully serviced kiosk deployment under a service contract for about $400 per month.

"It's a solution that's robust from the software side, but keeps it simple from the hardware side," Gilder said. "The goal is to be highly simplistic, very easy to use."

A joining of forces

The new venture with NEXTEP aligns Meridian with a small group of other companies that are marketing turnkey kiosks to niche players.

Meridian has worked with NEXTEP for two years, so the decision to use NEXTEP's software in the swipe&GO! line wasn't a leap. Tommy Woycik, NEXTEP's president, says the software used in the swipe&GO! line is merely an adaptation of other software programs NEXTEP has used for the last five years.

"It's very simple; you just scan barcode after barcode after barcode," Woycik said. "There's nothing complicated about scanning barcodes."

IBM, which also sells cashless self-checkout systems, says most consumers prefer not to use cash at self-checkout. And

Gilder says one company he's talking with is considering replacing its current line of self-checkout systems with the new swipe&GO! line, as a less expensive checkout option in for locations where transaction volume is not relatively high.