In the dynamic world of retail, one challenge stands out as a common frustration for both shoppers and businesses alike – the long queues at the checkout. While it's somewhat expected to encounter extended lines during peak seasons like holidays and sales events, the real concern arises when these queues become a year-round struggle, potentially resulting in significant profit loss.

‍

In this blog post, we'll delve into the risks associated with cart abandonment due to long waiting times in queues and introduce an innovative, cost-effective solution that promises to transform the shopping experience.

‍

What are the risks of long queues to your retail business?

Today, the competition is higher than ever, customers have countless choices, they can go to the competitor next door and they can go online. Whoever can deliver them the shopping experience they expect, which includes, of course, less time wasted on waiting in lines.

Here are the main risks associated with long waiting queues in stores:

Losing sales opportunities

In today's fast-paced environment, no one can afford to waste too much time over a piece of item, therefore if the queue is too long or moving too slow they will simply abandon the cart and leave empty-handed.

Researchers have found that 25% of shoppers would only wait a maximum of two minutes, 59% would wait no longer than four minutes, and 73% would abandon their purchase if they had to wait more than five minutes.

This means that if you consistently experience long lines throughout the year, it's likely affecting your bottom line.

Losing shoppers for good

So we understand that a lot of shoppers will not wait in line and will leave without their purchase, but did you know that they might never come back? 70% of shoppers said they are less likely to return to a store if they experience long waiting times on just one occasion.

Also, 74% would prefer to shop in a competitor’s store if they felt queueing time was lower. Hence, every time you have a long waiting line in store you might be losing your clients for good.

Bad shopping experience

Customers see the waiting line to pay as part of the overall shopping experience, so even if you invest in an exceptional shopping experience without considering taking care of the long lines, the shopping experience will leave a bad taste.

In fact, 86% of surveyed shoppers claim they avoid stores if they feel a queue is too long, before even taking a look at your offering. This damages your brand reputation and your customer’s loyalty.

‍

How to reduce queues effectively with RFID to increase sales

Thankfully waiting time in stores at checkout can be reduced with the help of RFID technology. We usually associate RFID with inventory management and loss prevention but RFID has way more to offer, such as fast and secure self-checkout.

Introducing self-checkout kiosks not only increases the capacity of active checkout stations simultaneously but also eliminates the need for additional workforce. Actually, it enables a reduction in staffing levels, as one employee can provide assistance to multiple stands when required, allowing the remaining stations to operate smoothly on their own.

Today, many customers prefer contactless checkout solutions as they give them a better sense of control and improved shopping experience.

And what about security? With each item tagged using RFID, you can be confident that the RFID security gates will identify any unpaid items exiting the stores. The smart self-checkout kiosk deactivates the RFID to signal that the items have been successfully paid for.

As a result, you will experience an increase in sales since there won't be extended queues scaring clients away. A seamless and pleasant shopping experience will foster customer loyalty, bringing clients back for more. Additionally, the streamlined checkout process may require fewer employees to oversee operations.

In the competitive retail landscape, persistent checkout queues risk lost sales and customer loyalty. RFID technology provides a game-changing solution. Implementing RFID-enabled self-checkout kiosks reduces waiting times, enhances security, and boosts operational efficiency. This not only drives immediate sales but also fosters long-term customer loyalty, ensuring success in the market.