Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Diebold is rolling out another concept product that uses mobile transactions and digital wallets but is aimed at retailers.

The company is developing a self-checkout concept based on technology used in its automated teller machines and other concept equipment.

Retailers will have a chance to see the concept starting Sunday through Tuesday at the NRF “BIG” Show — put on by the National Retail Federation — in New York City.

Diebold is applying to the retail checkout line the technology developed to let a bank customer’s smart phone — in place of a plastic swipe card— make a mobile transaction, Frank Natoli, the company’s executive vice president for self-service technology, explained in a news release.

“A convergence of the ATM, self-checkout and mobile would not only deliver speed and convenience to consumers, but also standardizes all cash handling into a single automated experience,” Natoli said in the release.

The checkout line concept uses technology Diebold developed for a screenless ATM concept called “Irving” in honor of author Washington Irving who wrote “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a short story that features a headless horseman.

The concept allows customers to use smart phones or other mobile devices to scan information on products as they shop. The details are moved into a “shopping cart” for storage until checkout. When the customer has finished shopping, they can bypass the checkout line and make their payment by tapping the mobile device at the self checkout unit.

Payments on the purchased items are made through pre-loaded information in the customer’s mobile wallet using a mobile app issued by the retailer. If necessary, the checkout unit can accept or dispense cash.

Diebold suggests that the process can eliminate traditional checkout lines, and increase customer loyalty by using stored-value cards, mobile marketing campaigns and membership rewards programs.

While Diebold has financial institutions working with them to use mobile technology at ATMs, the company hasn’t signed any retailers as partners for developing the checkout system. But the company is optimistic the concept will gain traction during the NRF show, spokeswoman Renee Murphy said.

www.cantonrep.com