Despite the negative impact of pandemic era restrictions on brick-and-mortar retail, the industry has managed to adapt by utilizing customer-driven solutions, such as self-checkout lanes, scan-and-go apps, and autonomous checkout locations. These recent technologies are here to stay.

Brick and mortar retail looks different than it did 20 years ago. With larger warehouse stores dominating the retail and grocery industry, the task of managing a workforce large enough to handle the volume of customers can be a daunting and costly task. Store models that place more control in the hands of customers offer patrons the benefit of convenience, while freeing staff members from the checkout counters to focus on immediate customer needs. An effect crowd control system that controls entry and the flow of foot traffic throughout the store is crucial in these customer-driven environments. By controlling the flow of customers from entry to exit, stores can effectively reduce instances of theft sometimes associated with self-serve checkout applications.