Italian Hypermarket Signs $6 Million POS and Self-Checkout Agreement

Italian hypermarket Auchan-Gruppo Rinascente, part of the Rinascente Group, has signed an agreement worth over $6 million with NCR to replace the point-of-sale (POS) hardware and software currently installed throughout the chains 38 stores.The new front-end solution includes NCR RealPOS(TM) 80c terminals, NCR RealScan 72 bioptic scanners and new electronic funds transfer PIN pads. The agreement marks a decisive turning point in the spread of self-checkout in Italy, as Auchan-Gruppo Rinascente will also install four to eight NCR FastLane self-checkout lanes in all stores. NCR FastLane, called "cassamica" (meaning "friendly cash register") by Auchan, offers customers the option to scan, bag and pay for their own purchases. Shoppers using NCR FastLane at Auchan can pay by cash, credit card or debit card. The system also accepts coupons and includes a module to deactivate security tags during the self-checkout process. NCR is also providing POS software for Auchan. NCR Advanced Store@Retail, an open, flexible front-end application, will allow Auchan-Gruppo Rinascente to increase its operating efficiency, competitiveness and ability to meet customers needs. For example, through the Digital Promotions module it will be possible to quickly develop and introduce new promotions. Highly scalable, NCR Advanced Store@Retail will allow Auchan to manage its multiformat stores through a single application.