Self Checkout

This Working Group is focused on the rapidly changing world of customer checkout, in particular the various ways in which shoppers can now do this with little or no active engagement with store team members.

With retailers becoming increasingly concerned about growing levels of retail loss associated with various types of self-checkout systems, this Working Group is driving industry-leading research on better understanding the scale and nature of the problem, and perhaps as importantly, how they can be better managed and controlled.

The Group is critically reviewing the role a combination of Design, Guardianship, Technologies, and Store Processes can play in the ongoing transformation of the checkout environment in retailing.

Research papers

Our research papers offer groundbreaking insights and actionable outcomes to help retailers and their partners better manage the many ways in which profits can be negatively impacted by all forms of retail loss. Produced by some of the leading academic experts in the field of retailing and loss prevention, they are all free to download.

Self Checkout

Rehumanising the Self-Checkout Experience
How human - centred design approaches can address mistakes, misuse and theft at SCO, drive brand loyalty and create bett...
Jeffrey Doruff, Lorraine Gamman, Paul Ekblom, Adrian Allen
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Self Checkout

The Impact and Control of Losses at the Self Checkout
Professor Adrian Beck
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Self Checkout

Mobile Self Scanning Technologies: Understanding the Impact on Loss
Professor Adrian Beck
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Self Checkout

Working on the ‘Front Line’ of Retail Self-checkout
A Survey of the Experiences of Self-checkout Supervisors
Adrian Beck
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Self Checkout

Global Study on Self-checkout in Retail
Use, Impact and Control
Professor Adrian Beck
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Self Checkout

Self-Checkout Loss: Three Ways to Rethink SCO Design
Full Report - Key Insights, Three Ways to Rethink SCO Design and 20 Design Concepts
Lorraine Gamman, Paul Ekblom, Jeffrey Doruff
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Self Checkout

Self-Checkout: Improving Scan Accuracy Through Design
Short Report - Key Insights & 20 Design Concepts
Lorraine Gamman, Paul Ekblom, Jeffrey Doruff
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Self Checkout

Self-Checkout in Retail: Measuring the Impact on Loss
Measuring the Loss
Adrian Beck
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Our Meetings

ECR Retail Loss Group regular working group meetings provide an opportunity to network with industry peers, hear updates on the latest research and sector initiatives, and development new skills and insights. All retailers, CPGs and academics can participate at no cost.

Self Checkout

Self Checkout - Unknown Item Best Practices
Feb 12th - 1pm UK
UpComing
Managing Unknown Items at SCO - Best Practices
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Reducing Age Related Alerts at SCO - Latest Retailer Learnings.
25th March - 1pm UK
UpComing
Age Verification At SCO - Retailer Updates
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Top SCO scams - 2025
May 29th 2025- 1pm UK
UpComing
Exploring Offender Tactics at SCO
Dr Matt Hopkins...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout Innovation Summit
June 17th & 18th - 2025
UpComing
Join us for this global in-person meeting of self checkout experts.
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout - Lessons from Retailers on Hybrid SCO's
Oct 1st - UK Time
UpComing
The good, bad and ugly of Hybrid SCO
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Updates on Self Checkout in Non Grocery - Retailer Case Studies
Dec 9th - 1pm UK Time
UpComing
Insights on SCO adoption [or not] in non grocery retailers
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Updates on Self Checkout in Non Grocery - Retailer Case Studies
Dec 17th - 1pm UK Time
Past
Insights on SCO adoption [or not] in non grocery retailers
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout Product Look Up Menu - Retailer Updates
Nov 19th - 1pm UK
Past
New ways to reduce losses caused by / enabled by the SCO PLU
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout - Insights on Hybrid and Trolley Controls
Oct 2nd - 1pm UK Time
Past
Insights on controlling for loss at hybrid and trolley SCO's
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout: Delivering Impact Via People & Technology
Sept 24th: 12.30pm UK
Past
Leveraging AI & Gates to Grow SCO Participation & Reduce Losses
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

New Research: How much loss can be attributed to SCO?
June 26th- 1pm UK
Past
Understanding losses from self-checkouts - new research programme
Professor Adrian Beck, Dr Matt Hopkins, University of Leicester...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout Innovation Summit
June 19th & 20th - 2024
Past
Join us for this global in-person meeting of self checkout experts.
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Scan & Go Expert Group - Invite Only
May 28th - 1pm UK
Past
Retailers Share Updates On Algorithms To Manage Audits
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout - New Insights on Delivering Effective Training
April 9th - 1pm UK
Past
Developments in SCO Training
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout - Item Not Scanning Best Practices
Feb 14th - 1pm UK
Past
Exploring Best Practices of Managing Item Not Scanning at SCO
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

New Ways to Reduce SCO Losses through [Better] Design
January 30th - 1pm UK
Past
Five new design ideas to reduce losses at self checkouts
Professor Lorraine Gamman, UAL...
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Self Checkout

Mobile SCO - What Controls Work for Own Device Proposition?
Jan 17th - 1pm UK
Past
What controls work for BYOD Mobile SCO
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Improving Sales of Impulse Items at the Self-Checkout
Dec 14th - 3pm UK
Past
How to grow sales of Impulse items at the Self Checkout
Mike Pedi, Transaction Zone Team Leader, Mars Wrigley...
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Self Checkout

Updates on Self Checkout in Non Grocery - Retailer Case Studies
Dec 13th - 3pm UK Time
Past
Insights on SCO adoption [or not] in non grocery retailers
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
Learn more

Self Checkout

Self Checkout Product Look Up Menu - Retailer Updates
Nov 21st - 1pm UK
Past
New ways to reduce losses caused by / enabled by the SCO PLU
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
Learn more

Self Checkout

Scan & Go - Improving Accuracy, Reducing Friction - Retailer Updates
October 17th - 3pm UK
Past
How do retailers reduce losses at Scan & Go?
Ondřej Gadatch, Checkout Self-Services Product Manager...
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Self Checkout

Setting KPI's for Self Checkouts
Sept 26th - 2.30pm
Past
Setting KPI's for SCO's
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout Loss Innovation Challenge Showcase Finale
June 28th - 1pm UK
Past
Join us to hear the hottest innovations in self checkout loss
Jeremy Basset, Founder, Co:Cubed....
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout Innovation - In Person Meeting - London - June 21st & 22...
June 21st and 22nd
Past
Join us for this global in-person meeting of self checkout experts.
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

The Evolution of SCO Scamming: Documenting Changes in Offender Tactics...
May 31st - 1pm
Past
Exploring Offender Tactics at SCO
Prof Adrian Beck, Andy Goodwin, Morrisons...
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Self Checkout

Self Checkout Training - Benchmark Session
April 12th - 1pm UK
Past
Training Benchmark Session
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Non Payment at Self Checkouts - What Controls Work?
March 16th - 1pm UK
Past
Walkaways, what controls work?
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Trolley and Hybrid Self Checkouts - Implications for Loss Controls
February 1st: 12pm UK Time
Past
Lessons in Controlling Losses on Trolley and Hybrid Self-Checkouts
Colin Peacock, ECR Retail Loss...
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Self Checkout

Updates on Self Checkout in Non Grocery
Dec 13th - 3pm UK Time
Past
SCO Challenges and Opportunities beyond Grocery