Stop Searching for a Barcode for Faster Self-Service
Self-checking at the grocery store is awesome and if you want to speed up your self-scan game, here’s a tip: Stop looking for a barcode, just swipe it. If you can do that, you can walk out with a cart of groceries in less time than it would take for a checker to scan and package them for you.
Of course, the reason many of us use self-service is to avoid queues, or because we only have a few items (or to avoid human interaction), but regardless of whether you have one item or a hundred, you could probably speed up the process a little. Vox has a list of great tips to turn you into the self-pay version of The Flash, but we loved this one.
This is by far the most important way to reduce your self-service time: never check your item for a barcode again. Just run it over the scanner. If he doesn’t scan, your hand is covering the barcode or he is looking at you, so just flip it over and scan again.
… This works because each register has a “scan area” that will search for code throughout the product. Think of it not as a laser strike on the code, but as a field through which you pass the product. NCR even advises cashiers to use a “power slide” —they recommend extending your hand as if you were shaking hands with a product.
Vox spoke with Jenny P. Johnson, Human Factors Engineer at NCR , the world’s largest self-service business. She explained that when people search for barcodes, they usually spend 2-3 seconds looking, often in vain, since the barcode is in the place where the scanner would have caught it anyway. Overall, 2-3 seconds doesn’t sound like much, but it will add up throughout the entire checkout, which you probably noticed if you’ve ever queued up for someone tormenting every item before. swiping over it.
In short, just take it and pass it over the scanner. If the scan fails, turn it over and try again. Made.
Follow the link below for even more professional self-checkout tips, including things like memorizing PLU codes for your favorite products (so you can enter them immediately).
Here’s How To Become The Fastest Person In The Checkout Line | Vox