At a glance
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Hybrid Self-Checkout ModelSPAR Viking Lodge now completes 30% of transactions through their two hybrid self-checkouts
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Improved Staff Productivity and Customer ExperienceFaster, convenient service whilst staff are freed up to spend more time on the shop floor
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Faster Fuel Payments and Reduced TheftFuel payments are completed quickly, with intelligent controls in place to prevent theft.
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EDGEPoS Solutions used
Seamless Fuel Transactions with Hybrid SCO
SPAR Viking Lodge’s hybrid self-checkouts has afforded customers “incredibly quick service” when paying for fuel.
Dan pointed out that the store “gets a lot of, especially during the school rush, parents who’ve got a car full of maybe three or four kids. They don’t have time to wait in a queue or they’re in a rush to get to work early in the morning. They just get their (fuel), walk in, push a few buttons and they’re out the door within less than 30 seconds.”
Before the hybrid self-checkouts, it was a case that staff had to authorise all fuel payments. Dan highlighted that “Going back to those days, people were still telling us the wrong pumps so then it became an operator error. But since we’ve had the implementation of being able to pay for your own pumps, people have been more vigilant, making sure they are definitely at that particular pump.”
“We haven’t had any issues with it, which I was actually very, very surprised with. I thought at the start there would have been some teething issues. But it’s really came along fantastic.”
SPAR Viking Lodge have adapted their hybrid self-checkouts to prevent walk-offs by putting restrictions on certain low-value items.
Dan explained that this method to reducing theft has been highly effective as “people aren’t chancing their arm as much anymore. We would maybe get kids that will try and, you get it in every store, they’ll maybe try and scan through a wham bar instead of a pint of milk for their parents or something like that, but with the restrictions we put on those lower value items, the moment somebody scans that through, the system asks for an age authorisation, which immediately alerts the tell staff to check that they have definitely only got the one item and their not just trying to scan through £30 worth of shopping for a £1 item.”
Through this, Dan highlighted that “we’ve noticed that our self-scan walk offs have dropped down dramatically and our theft hasn’t been anywhere near as much as what we would have thought”
Dan went on to add that this “has definitely proved to be effective”, so much that it is a case previous shoplifters have now been “averted from coming anywhere near the store because they know they can’t get away with it”.
Ultimately, SPAR Viking Lodge’s strategic use of hybrid self-checkout technology has proven that, when intelligently configured, self-service can deliver both convenience and control — dramatically reducing walk-offs while strengthening in-store security.
Hybrid Self-Checkout Widely Adopted by Customers
The hybrid self-checkouts have become popular amongst SPAR Viking Lodge’s customers, Dan noted that “it’s a wide range of ages that use it, I’ve seen kids as young as maybe ten all the way up until our elderly customers coming in and using the self-checkouts”
Dan explained that he originally expected only the younger generation to make use of it ”but it’s actually really surprised me the vast age range of people that are preferring to use the technology.”
It is evident through Viking Lodge’s experience that self-checkouts are prevalent now, with customers being familiar and now expectant of them.
SPAR Viking Lodge’s hybrid self-checkouts’ average transactions sit at 30%. Dan noted that “at the start, we were struggling to maybe hit around 18%. Through a bit of training with the staff, which was really simple, then making sure staff communicate (how to use SCOs) clearly to the customer … self-checkout transactions have just been steadily increasing year by year.”
Dan thinks that these transactions are “only going to increase” and he “would like to actually think at one point almost all of our transactions will be self-checkout, because that means there will be more time for me and my staff to be on the shop floor to engage with customers customers then and there.”
Dan has been able to recognise a clear improvement to his staff’s productivity, noting that “especially with the likes of wage constraints, during times where we’ve had to drawback our wages, we’re still able to run with minimal staff, and still able to get the jobs done like packing orders, packing fresh orders, tidy the shop, packing all gaps.”
The hybrid self-checkouts have allowed SPAR Viking Lodge to “free up the staff to do those jobs on the floor whilst two self-checkouts are running” meaning that even when understaffed, the store does not experience a reduction in productivity levels as they are able to utilise their staff where they are most required.
Dan even highlighted that “nine times out of ten, you go to hop onto a till when you see a queue and … majority of customers would still just go to the self-checkout”. This highlights the reduced pressure of manned tills with hybrid self-checkouts, allowing staff to remain focused on essential operational tasks.
Reducing Costs, Improving Customer Experience
If SPAR Viking Lodge didn’t have two hybrid self-checkouts in place, Dan acknowledged that their “operations costs would go up because we would have to bring in more staff”.
Not only do self-checkouts help retailers manage costs, but also expedite service and reduce queues. Dan reinforced that with self-checkouts “you can just bypass everything, go get what you want and then just leave as quickly as you can, because that’s what people want. They want to be in and out of the shops now. It’s all about convenience.”
Dan further explained the benefit that self-checkouts have to customers, noting that “at the start, people thought they’re going to take your jobs. But then they realise it’s not taking our jobs it’s actually freeing us up.” “so whenever we’re on the shop floor packing, there’s less gaps in the store and you’ll actually be able to help customers on the shop floor before they come to the till.”
This shows that the hybrid self-checkouts have not only reduced costs but improved customer service, as more staff are available on the shop floor. Rather than waiting in queues to raise queries, customers can quickly approach staff who have been freed up from the tills — creating a more responsive, accessible, and efficient in-store experience
Conclusion
The implementation of hybrid self-checkouts at SPAR Viking Lodge have delivered measurable results across multiple areas of the business.
From significantly reducing walk-offs and strengthening in-store controls, to improving staff productivity and lowering operational costs, the solution has proven to be both financially beneficial and operationally practical.
By freeing up staff from fixed till points, the team can remain visible and available on the shop floor, improving responsiveness and overall customer experience. At the same time, high customer adoption demonstrates clear shopper confidence in the system, with many choosing the self-checkouts even when manned tills are available.
For SPAR Viking Lodge, hybrid self-checkouts are not simply a payment solution — they are a strategic tool that supports loss prevention, drives efficiency, and delivers a better in-store experience for both staff and customers alike.