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BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Cos. is empowering consumers with fast and convenient in-store checkout experiences by implementing Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions’ self-checkout systems. By leveraging Toshiba’s focus on front-end store optimization, Albertsons Cos. expects checkout times to speed up – from wait time in line to payment – to improve operational throughput and reduce shopper interventions, with the ultimate goal of improving the customer’s grocery store experience.
“We are empowering our consumers to curate their in-store shopping experiences based on their needs and desires,” said Anuj Dhanda, executive vice president and chief information officer at Albertsons Cos. “Our partnership is resulting in a smoother experience for our shoppers using self-checkout by reducing the interventions they experience. Toshiba’s strength in applying machine learning and intelligence to the checkout process across our 2,200+ stores will enhance how we serve our shoppers and build greater trust with our loyal customers.”
The partnership between the two companies includes immediate and long-term initiatives to better engage in-store shoppers, optimize front-end throughput, and improve overall customer satisfaction. In particular, Albertsons Cos. is currently piloting mobile point-of-sale and line-busting solutions that are expected to further reduce the time that customers spend at checkout.
The two companies have a long-standing relationship, which aligns with Albertsons Cos.’ overall four-walls and no-walls strategy of delivering differentiated in-store experiences to consumers when, where, and how they want to shop.
For shoppers, this means removing friction throughout the in-store journey while creating more seamless checkout experiences. This also benefits store managers and associates by putting easy-to-use tools and information in their hands to address issues facing shoppers in real time.
“Today’s retail world isn’t simply about transactions, it’s about a consumer-centric focus that always values the unique relationship between a brand and their customer,” said Toshiba global commerce solutions vice president, head of Americas Bill Campbell. “We are thrilled to work with Albertsons Cos. to deliver on their commitment to put customers first by leveraging our best-in-class, self-service solutions to optimize front-end checkout operations.”
Albertsons Cos. currently features Toshiba’s System 6 self-service solutions across the Jewel, ACME, Shaw’s, Safeway, Carrs, Tom Thumb, Randalls, and Vons banners with plans to deploy the all-new System 7 later this calendar year.
Toshiba’s user-friendly operations and intelligent security features are becoming popular with Albertsons Cos. customers who now process an increasing number of transactions through self-service.
Additionally, Albertsons Cos. plans to deploy the TCx Elevate Mobile Operations Manager application to enable store associates to clear interventions, perform overrides, and scan items on the bottom of the basket directly from their mobile device. This will support associates to better serve shoppers at both self-checkout and traditional front-end lanes.
Toshiba builds and orchestrates self-checkout as a seamless extension of the front-end point-of-sale, simplifying how Albertsons Cos. manages underlying business logic, certifies capabilities such as payment devices and self-maintains systems to optimize personnel.
