NCR launches ‘world first’ for returns

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Global technology company NCR Corporation has introduced the first self-service returns solutions for the global retail industry.

The new NCR FastLane Self-Return solution, showcased at last week's NCR Self-Service Universe Executive Conference in Budapest, empowers retailers to provide queue-busting convenience in the time-consuming merchandise return process.

Consumers are given the opportunity to return goods for a refund on their own by first scanning the items and entering relevant product information, before inspection and approval by a store associate and reimbursement.

"The ease of returning products is a significant factor in a consumer's purchasing decision. Our research finds that over half of consumers would prefer to shop at stores that offer a self-service solution to help speed returns," said Mike Webster, chief strategy and communications officer, NCR Corporation.

"The first solution of its kind, NCR FastLane Self-Return provides retailers with a new vehicle for enhancing the consumer experience and building customer loyalty, while also improving staffing and operational efficiencies."

The company also announced the availability of its NCR WayFinding kiosk in Europe, the first self-service solution to enable shoppers to find products in-store with ease without having to find a member of staff or queue at the customer service desk.

The average supermarkets now hold an average of 25,000 product lines. This gives consumers a greater choice of both food and non-food products under one roof but can also make it difficult for them to locate both ‘store cupboard' and ‘specialty' items on their shopping list.

Consumers can now overcome this challenge by typing the product they are looking for into a ‘search engine' on the NCR WayFinding kiosk. The kiosk then displays the fastest route on a map that details the item's department, aisle number and shelf location.

The NCR WayFinding software can be interfaced with the retailer's existing product look-up (PLU) database or website. This means it automatically reflects changes in product availability and pricing initiatives.

Giovanni Bandi, NCR's Retail and Hospitality Solutions vice president for Europe, commented: "Many shoppers face the frustration of not being able to find products in supermarkets according to research by the Institute of Grocery Distribution. A significant number will fail in their search and decide to shop elsewhere. NCR is putting an end to this ‘wasted' shopping time and lost sales opportunities with the innovative NCR WayFinding kiosk."

The firm will also bring Cisco's Digital Media System to retailers and quick service restaurants throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). NCR will be delivering consultancy, integration, deployment and ongoing services support for Cisco's digital signage and desktop video solutions, which help deliver greater management control at a lower cost of operation than traditional products.

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