Self-Checkout Redesign (Student Project)
Students: Caio Keunecke Caroline Pierson Izaac Ogata Paxton Taylor
Introduction Walmart is an American multinational retailer corporation that operates as a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, the company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 and incorporated on October 31, 1969. Self Checkout was invented to improve the efficiency of the purchases items with a retailer. As of 2013, there were 191,000 self-checkout units worldwide, and the number was estimated to reach 325,000 units by 2019. The machines were invented by David R. Humble.
Table of Contents 1. Brainstorming 2. Sketches 3. Refinements 4. Machinery 5. Interface
01 Brainstorming
Our class participated in a brainstorming session where we identified key usability issues with self-checkout stations around the High Point area. Not only did we examine the physical design of the machinery, but we also poked holes at the design of the digital interface as well. The goal of this brainstorm session was to keep in mind the design elements, or flaws, that had been created with the disabled user in mind.
Problems
Solutions
No Handicap Available
Conveyor Belt Lifter
Difficult for those in a wheelchair to lean over the big clunky scanner beneath the interface screen to navigate the payment process, retrieve their receipt, etc.
Darran Sit & Stand Technology allows you to move the conveyor belt up and down. Also, button lowers platform to handicap accessible height; resets automatically after payment and all bags are taken.
Scanning Issues
More efficient Scanning System
Some scanners will scan items twice, prompting the self checkout associate to come and fix it. You can also run into a problem when your item does not have a barcode, whether the item is produce or just has a missing or damaged barcode.
New Scanning software technology: Jade x7 Automatic Scanner; MRI-like software. Produce Label Machine: easy-to-use scale that will print labels to stick on the bag for easy scanning.
Poor Interface Design
User-Friendly Interface Design
Users experience frustration and anxiety when using the machine, therefore they have the tendency of avoid the self-checkout.
A self-explanatory interface that is easier and more practical to user. The new interface has two options of scanning, audio and language options that will fit better for each customers’ needs.
Self Checkout Attendant
Ask Sam
Self Check out was invented for the independent shopper. When the machine makes an error you will have to rely on the attendant to come over and help.
Implemented a voice technology system to answer customer questions regarding usage of the interface. The goal behind this feature of the design was to help lessen the fear factor people have associated with the self-checkout experience.
02
Sketches Design is process. Design is project. Through developing the creation of our physical design it was extremely important that we continuously “poke holes” at the functionality of our piece. Asking questions like “what if?”, led us to discover new ways of looking at our design, often times from the eyes of various user abilities. As a group we worked to design primarily with disability in mind, which in turn led us to the creation of a more seamless user experience for the able bodied individual as well. Engaging in respectful criticism throughout the creation of our design lent itself in the end to the most well developed product we see fit given the prompt of the assignment.
03
Refinements Through developing the creation of our physical design it was extremely important that we continuously “poke holes” at the functionality of our piece. Asking questions like “what if?”, led us to discover new ways of looking at our design, often times from the eyes of various user abilities. As a group we worked to design primarily with disability in mind, which in turn led us to the creation of a more seamless user experience for the able bodied individual as well. Engaging in respectful criticism throughout the creation of our design lent itself in the end to the most well developed product we see fit given the prompt of the assignment.
04 Machinery We redesign the Walmart self checkout machine to create more accessibility. In order to accomplish that we mixed existing technologies to create a better and easier experience, making the machinery accessible to any human being. The machine works in three simple steps: choose conveyor belt hight; load items onto belt and go through the interface steps. Once you have loaded the belt, your items will pass through the Jade X7 Automatic Scanner, avoiding the most common scanning problems.
Final Render
05 Interface One of the main reasons people tend to steer clear of the self-checkout is because of the fear factor they have associated with attempting to navigate the interface. To help alleviate this fear, we have implemented an easyto-use navigation system within our interface, making it less intimidating for the user to tackle by including fewer buttons, thus lessening the amount of action required by the user.
Landing Screen
Quick Scan Hand Scanner / 10 items or less
Full Cart Conveyor Belt & Hand Scanner
Ask Sam
Language
The landing page shows two main checkout options. Quick Scan will prompt the user to use the hand scanner when they have a few items. Full Cart was designed to make self checkout easier when you have a full grocery load. As soon as the user presses Full Cart the items on the Conveyor Belt will begin scanning. At the bottom of the screen there are three help options, Language, Sam, and Search.
Full Cart Screens
Quick Scan Screen Language Language
Hang tight, your items are scanning... Use hand scanner for larger items
Item One Item Two Item Three
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Remove Item
Subtotal
3 item(s)
Language Language
$0.00
Please scan your items using the hand scanner
Coupons & Discounts
Tip: Use the side table to sit your items on.
Tax
$
Total
$
Item One Item Two Item Three
Finish & Pay
Remove Item
Language
guage age
You are all set! Your items are finished scanning.
Tax
$
Total
$
Finish & Pay
Quick Scan will prompt the user to use the handscanner,
Language
Subtotal
11 item(s)
$0.00
Coupons & Discounts
Item Four $0.00 Item Five $0.00 Easy indication of completed scanning. This is when you can add any large Six scanner. The Finish & Pay $0.00 items withItem the hand button is now active to click. Tax Item Seven $0.00 Item Eight $0.00 Total Item Nine $0.00 Item Ten $0.00 Item Eleven $0.00
$0.00 $0.00
$0.00
Coupons & Discounts
Language
As the conveyor belt scans the items the machine will show the scanning process, in a loading screen. The screen will show the list of purchased items and subtotal. The Finish & Pay button will not be active until scanning of the belt is completed.
Use hand scanner for larger items
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Subtotal
3 item(s)
Payment Option Screen
Once Clicked
Use the card reader to insert chip or swipe card to complete payment.
Balance Due: $0.00 How would you like to pay?
Debit/Credit Card
Cash
Gift Card
Partial Payment Back
Language
Insert cash and coin money in the machine below. Back
Language
Once you click Finish & Pay you will be shown the balance due and payment options. Also you will be able to go back to the scanning screen to re-check you items. Back
Language
Use card reader to swipe your gift card.
Back
Language
Select needed options Debit/Credit Card
Cash
Gift Card
Finish Screen
Thank you for shopping at Walmart!
Sam & Search
Implemented a voice technology system to answer customer questions regarding usage of the interface. The goal behind this feature of the design was to help lessen the fear factor people have associated with the selfcheckout experience.
This feature was added to the design of the interface to be used when attempting to purchase an item without a barcode. One of the goals of this challenge was to remove the human, and that’s just what this search feature does.
Other Graphics
Custom Icons