Dive Brief:
- Hop Shops, the 15-store c-store chain owned by Valor Oil, is turning to AI-enabled technology to create a faster, more efficient self checkout experience, the company announced last week.
- The retailer is installing AI-assisted checkout machines from Mashgin, as well as Glory’s cash automation system. Customers place their items on the Mashgin machine, which recognizes the products and calculates the total before accepting payment via cash or card.
- As c-store operations become more complex, convenience retailers are increasingly turning to AI-enabled tools to streamline processes and automate manual tasks.
Dive Insight:
Mashgin’s computer vision system aims to reduce the complexity of traditional checkout as well as self-checkout kiosks by automatically identifying and scanning items placed on the machine. Additionally, Glory’s technology allows customers with cash to use the machines.
“We were looking to creatively solve competing priorities through technology, which led us to become an early adopter of Mashgin,” said Damon Bail, vice president of retail operations and marketing for Valor Oil and Hop Shops. “It allows us to serve customers faster while giving our team members more opportunities to focus on the customer experience beyond the register.”
Mashgin machines can accept a variety of payment methods through integrations with third-party vendors. However, only two — Glory and Crane Payment Innovations — offer the cash recyclers that can allow a Mashgin kiosk to take cash and give change.
Hop Shops has made a number of store improvement moves lately. The Mashgin announcement comes as the retailer prepares to roll out its proprietary Disco Dough Pizza Company.
