This week, at NRF Big Show in New York City, both NCR and Toshiba showcased self-checkout solutions that use artificial intelligence and computer vision to automatically scan multiple items at once, known as ‘bulk scanning’. All customers must do is place their purchases on the product tray on the respective system. Using cameras and AI-based software, the systems identify all items and add them to the receipt.
NCR markets its solution under the name NCR Voyix Halo Checkout. Its product recognition software comes from Irish computer vision and AI specialist Everseen. The system has been in pilot operation at selected convenience stores of family-owned company Mach 1 at Phillips 66 petrol stations in the USA since November 2024.
Toshiba operates its system, called MxP Vision Kiosk, on its own Elera Commerce Platform. The manufacturer is positioning the compact and modular solution primarily for the check-out of smaller shopping baskets. Main target markets are drugstores, speciality stores, convenience stores, supermarkets and fast-food restaurants. The company has not yet announced any customer installations. Toshiba is also showing a battery-powered version of the kiosk as a concept, which can be used for outdoor promotions or at events.
Systems promise fast and simple check-out
As far as the technology identifies all products reliably, this means a fast and smooth checkout process for customers with smaller baskets. NCR states that its Voyix Halo Checkout can scan up to 20 products simultaneously. The provider has integrated Everseen’s Evershow technology for this purpose. The software analyses images from four cameras mounted above the tray. Regardless of the items’ position, the system is supposed to identify them reliably and register them with the correct prices. Based on its own tests with up to nine items, NCR claims an average processing time of eight seconds after the last product has been placed on the tray.
Toshiba also promotes fast and reliable product recognition using computer vision. The MxP Vision Kiosk also utilises a scale that adds item weight as a second factor for reliable product identification. Toshiba has integrated solutions from fintech company PopID for payment processing. The solution, called PopPay, recognises registered customers using facial recognition. The system also supports other biometric payment methods.
AI combats inventory losses
By analysing camera images and using integrated loss prevention tools, the AI applications of both solutions are designed to help detect potential fraud attempts. In this way, inventory losses, which are not trivial at self-checkouts, can be minimised.
