The concept of customers serving themselves is not new. The first bank ATM was installed as far back as 1967 in Enfield, North London, while deposit-only machines date back to the 30’s. You can now go on holiday without talking to anyone! Book over the internet, check-in online or at a kiosk, drop your bags off and head for security and the shops. Over time more and more daily tasks have been transformed to ‘self-service’. The retail environment was slow to catch-on, but is now making up for lost time. Most large retailers now offer self-service checkouts. Some offer ‘scan as you shop’ using hand scanners or even your own smartphone. Petrol forecourts now offer ‘pay at pump’ service.
