GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, MI -- One of shoppers’ chief grievances is waiting too long in the checkout line.
So it isn’t surprising there was a line of shoppers on Friday afternoon eager to try the Next Generation Checkout system Meijer is testing at its Jenison store.
The NCR-built system, which automatically scans merchandise, was installed this week and opened to customers on Thursday, April 3.
"It basically speeds up the line," said Frank Guglielmi, Meijer spokesman.
The system has a scanner made up of 17 cameras to scan barcodes on a product that has been placed on the conveyor belt.
As shoppers place merchandise on a conveyor belt, the items are scanned, and then sent to one of three collection areas, where customers bag them.
Unlike other U-scan checkouts that let customers pay without any assistance, a cashier will manage the register and assist customers with any questions or issues that come up during the checkout process. Customers can use coupons, mPerks and all payment options at the checkout.
“It’s all about choices for our customers,” said Guglielmi. “They can choose how they want to shop and which technology they want to use.”
The retailer continues to offer traditional checkout lanes staffed by cashiers, and individual U-Scan checkouts where customers can scan their merchandise, pay for it and bag it without staff assistance.
Meijer is always looking for ways to speed up the checkout process because it is an important part of the shopper experience.
“That’s one of the things that makes customers upset more than anything else is having to wait in line,” Guglielmi said.
It's unclear when the technology, or a version of it, will be introduced to Meijer's other 203 locations across five states.
"There is no end date to the test," said Guglielmi, adding, “We are going evaluate the data as we go."
Meijer selected the store, at 550 Baldwin St., because a regional office is located in the store making it easier for operations staff to observe customers using the technology.
As shoppers used the checkout, several Meijer employees from the retailer’s operations team observed the process, answered customers’ questions and bagged groceries to keep the line moving as fast as possible.
Overall, customers seemed pleased with the technology, although they noted the process slowed down during the bagging portion.
Shopper Linda Horstman says she doesn't miss hunting for barcodes on the store's U-Scan self checkouts.
"The only drawback is the bagging, otherwise it is super fast," Horstman said.
Sara Byker, of Hudsonville, says she was impressed with the speed of the scanning as well. But she felt the system wasn't ideal for big orders like hers. She had two grocery carts of merchandise, and a handful of coupons to process.
"I think when I have big orders like this, it will be kind of tricky with no one to bag the orders for me," said Byker. "It will clog up the system."
Byker says she is waiting for a system that would allow her to scan her items as she puts them in her cart.
"That would be perfect," Byker said.
Shandra Martinez covers business for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her or follow her on Twitter @shandramartinez.