Weighing system at check-outs

Press, 28 November 1989, Page 20

Weighing system at check-outs

The introduction of new technology will see several significant changes at Countdown Northlands, the most significant occurring in the weighing of all items at the check-out. Countdown has introduced the new NCR 2 127 point of sale scanning system with front-end weighing at the checkouts at Northlands. This will mean that individual items such as fruit will now be weighed at the check-out rather than the produce department.

Mr Mike Higgins, the Merchandise Systems Manager, says that other innovations will include an automatic conveyor

belt at the check-out which will be controlled by a photo-electric cell. “Items move along the conveyor belt until the beam of light is broken. The item is then picked up by the operator, passed over the scanner and pushed further along the check-out to be packed.

“Another innovation is that all the scanners are now vertical rather than on a flat bed as in the past,” he says. Each check-out will have a cheque-writing facility where the name and amount owned will be automatically prined on the cheque which then only requires a signature

and suitable identifiction shown. Each check-out also has Cashline facilities which will accept all bank debit cards from December.

The new technology installed at Countdown Northlands means that all pricing can be controlled from headquarters in Bryon Street with information such as price, weekly specials, product movement and supply being fed down the telephone line.

“Having this instantaneous supply of information means we can make our decisions very quickly on such things as promotions and specials,” he says.