DALLAS — Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Calgary Co-op) has completed a chain-wide rollout of self-checkout that has enhanced customer service and shopper satisfaction. The new technology from StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of Retalix Ltd., provides additional checkout options for customers at Calgary Co-op's retail food centers throughout Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The project, completed in early April by StoreNext dealer AM/PM Service, integrates Fujitsu U-Scan self-checkout systems with StoreNext's ISS45 point-of-sale systems. With unemployment in the Calgary metropolitan area averaging just 3.2 percent over the past 10 years, the shortage of retail service personnel contributed to the project's importance.
"Our stores are seeing an increasing number of customers using the self-checkout lanes," said Donna Burn, vice president of member and public relations for Calgary Co-op. "This has taken pressure off of our staffed checkout lanes during a time when Calgary is experiencing continuing labor shortages."
Locally owned and operated, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America, with more than 425,000 members, 4,000 employees, $352 million in assets and annual sales of $998 million. Calgary Co-op has 22 retail shopping centers, 22 pharmacies, 26 gas bars, nine travel offices and 15 liquor stores located in Calgary, Airdrie, Strathmore and Okotoks, Alberta.
The successful pilot installation in April 2007 led to an all-enterprise retrofit schedule, installing U-Scan in additional retail centers at approximately one-week intervals. In each store, Calgary Co-op replaced one or two of its up-to-21 standard checkout lanes with four U-Scan self-checkout units. After a pause for the holiday shopping season the rollout continued in January 2008 to the remaining retail centers, until 88 self-checkout units overall were operating in the Co-op's 22 food centers.
