Recently in Self-Checkout Category

"LEID Products' iLibrary System is an innovative approach to extending library hours and accessibility," said Sam Hoff, president, LEID Products. "The libraries of Kentucky have already recognized benefits of using LEID's self-service solutions. Seven library districts in the state have installed our systems in multiple locations to provide better access to library materials for their patrons."

SoloHealth's stations, slated to be in 2,500 Walmarts and Sam's Clubs next month, to video consultations with doctors, to smartphone apps that track blood pressure and heart rate, consumer health  technology is attracting big-name backers such as retailer Walmart,

The initial deal for kiosks is set at 5,000 units around the country. Coinstar believes it is possible to expand to 15,000 nationwide, if the initial launch is a success. Machines will be found at drug stores and big box retailers, with an emphasis on stores that do not already have a coffee store inside. Safeway (SWY), the number two grocery chain, has already signed up for more than 50 kiosks. Safeway is betting on the kiosks, even though its units have Starbucks locations inside.

When the city of Plano installed an automatic payment kiosk at City Hall in 2008, it hoped the new technology would allow people to quickly and easily pay their utility bills without having to leave their vehicles.

Crews installed a Hubway bike-sharing kiosk across from the Campus Center on the UMass Boston campus on Friday, Sept. 7. The 19-dock solar-powered station is part of an expansion of the popular Hubway system:

Italy-based Pharmalogic's medication-dispensing kiosks are using a printer and scanner from Custom to allow users to print receipts and scan prescriptions, according to a company press release.

Writeup on IKEA "yanking" self-checkout machines.  Unclear and uncooperative machines process. Color commentary from Francie M. and Sheridan O.

BOONE, N.C., June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ECR Software Corporation (ECRS) has again been recognized with the Vity Award for Best Computerized Point of Sale System. Vity Awards are given annually by Vitamin Retailer magazine to the top products and services in the Natural Products/Health industry as selected directly by retailers. ECRS is the leading supplier of retail automation to merchants in this vibrant, growing industry.

KIOSK Information Systems (KIOSK) will be featuring their new StoreBOT™ Automated Retail Platform at the NRF Loss Prevention Conference in New Orleans June 20th - 21st at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (Booth #1731).  The solution provides a fully automated consumer sales transaction with secure product category lockdown and real-time inventory intelligence. Also the GiftWise turnkey gift card solution from Self ServiceNetworks.

AVT reports income up this quarter. Net income $3.5M for quarter with margin of 60%.

New major project completed by Friendlyway with Globus.  We were speaking with Klaus Trox CEO and he mentioned it and the success it has seen. As hot as "in-store" is these days, this is the complete opposite being outside store or maybe extended store. Pretty cool stuff.

This week's print edition of the Puget Sound Business Journal checks in on Coinstar (subscription required), the Seattle-based company that started with coin-counting vending machines and is now best known for its Redbox DVD rental kiosks.

Write up on MinuteKey soon to be in Lowes, Costco, and Walmart. Minutekey is led by Randall Fagundo ex-Sugar Loaf/Coinstar.

NCR Express Key kiosk to let guests who check in online or via mobile device bypass registration to obtain room key.

OMAHA, Neb., May 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Many attendees of this weekend's Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting saw something they'd never seen before: a complete retail store in just 2 sq. ft. of floor space. In contrast to the usual large booths selling products made by Berkshire-owned brands. Richline Group, a Berkshire Hathaway-owned jewelry manufacturer, employed the Vigix vending kiosk to sell commemorative, gold and silver coins, pendants, and money clips. Sales were strong throughout the meeting, achieving an annualized sales per square foot of more than $1,125,000.

"Today, we have eight seed businesses with domain managers for each seed," said Paul Davis, Coinstar's chief executive. "We pay the domain managers like at a venture capital firm: They get a percentage of the value they create. We tell them, 'It's high risk, high reward.'"

Thanks to the good people at POP Online for highlighting Kiosk Industry Group awards handed out at CETW in San Francisco. POPonline is great resource and we welcome them to our network.

Chicago enters into a contract with Portland, Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. to run the city's first major bike sharing system with 3,000 bikes at 300 stations, slated to launch in September. Another 1,000 bikes at 100 kiosks will be added next year. 

JCP or J.C. Penney customers can stop at a kiosk where they can pay credit card bills, buy gift cards and order products via a dedicated computer and have them shipped elsewhere.

March 7 (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc will add more self-checkout lanes at its Walmart and Sam's Clubs stores as it continues to look for ways to lower costs and prices, Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley said on Wednesday. Notable quote - For every one second in average transaction time at the Walmart U.S. chain, the company said it spends about $12 million in cashier wages.

Insta Ink, which sells more than 800 types of new and recycled ink and toner cartridges, has partnered with AVT to manufacture kiosks to dispense products inside retail locations.

From Kioskmarketplace.com  - predictions from the experts in self-service and self-service automation for 2012.

Write up by Pittsburgh Tribune on FMI report that self-service checkouts are falling in popularity. Big Y and Albertson's in any case though those chains may come with their own unique challenges.